Ch1 Problem 11 help

[FCervania 1B]

Hello,

I understand that the series are all in separate parts of the spectrum, and how they are found by using the Rydberg constant at different starting points for N, but I don't understand what makes it necessarily logical/

Like I don't understand the answer in the solution manual either, an someone rephrase it/ explain it to me please?

Thank you

[Chem_Mod]

In class I keep drawing the largest energy gap between n = 1 and n = 2.
Because this is the largest energy gap, an electron transition that includes this gap will have the highest energy.
Now ask yourself which of the following groups of lines have the highest energy: UV, Visible, IR?

The answer is UV, therefore all the lines in the UV region include the largest energy gap between n = 1 and n = 2.
In other words, all the UV lines in the Lyman series involve transitions to n = 1.

For the Balmer series (visible) n = 2.
For the Paschen series (IR) n = 3.

This question is great for group discussion of which their are 20 hours every week.
I already had this exact question and discussion in my office hours. :-)
Discuss it some more in the Peer Learning Sessions and in Discussion Sections or in any of the Office Hours.

Good that you asked!