Which excited electron has the lowest energy?

Answer

A

Image with description A green dot in the middle of 5 concentric circles. The first away from the green dot is labeled n = 1. The second circle away from the green dot is labeled n = 2. The third circle away from the green dot is labeled n = 3. The fourth away from the green dot is labeled n = 4 and the last is labeled n = 5. There is an orange dot on the n = 5 circle.

B

Image with description A green dot in the middle of 5 concentric circles. The first away from the green dot is labeled n = 1. The second circle away from the green dot is labeled n = 2. The third circle away from the green dot is labeled n = 3. The fourth away from the green dot is labeled n = 4 and the last is labeled n = 5. There is an orange dot on the n = 2 circle.

C

Image with description A green dot in the middle of 5 concentric circles. The first away from the green dot is labeled n = 1. The second circle away from the green dot is labeled n = 2. The third circle away from the green dot is labeled n = 3. The fourth away from the green dot is labeled n = 4 and the last is labeled n = 5. There is an orange dot on the n = 3 circle.

D

Image with description A green dot in the middle of 5 concentric circles. The first away from the green dot is labeled n = 1. The second circle away from the green dot is labeled n = 2. The third circle away from the green dot is labeled n = 3. The fourth away from the green dot is labeled n = 4 and the last is labeled n = 5. There is an orange dot on the n = 4 circle.

Explanation

An electron’s energy increases as its principal energy level, n, increases. The lowest excited level is n = 2, since n = 1 is the ground state. Choice B shows the electron at n = 2, so it has the lowest energy among these excited electrons.

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Atomic Spectra — Quiz

Which excited electron has the lowest energy?

Explanation

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