P.E Experiment

[John Liang 2I]

"True or False? An electron in the n = 4 state in the hydrogen atom can go to the n = 2 state by emitting electromagnetic radiation at the appropriate frequency." Is there a distinction between an atom absorbing electromagnetic radiation and emitting it? Can't only light emit radiation? Are "absorb" and "emit" interchangeable across the atom and the light?

[Alex Tchekanov Dis 2k]

Absorb and emit are not interchangeable terms. When an electron falls down from a higher energy level to a lower energy level, it will emit specific energy -- the same amount of energy needed to elevate it. For example, if a certain wave length excited an electron from n=2 to n=4, the amount of energy that was ABSORBED, would be exaxtly the amount of energy EMITTED when the electron goes back down. Hope that helps

[Vicki Liu 2L]

Absorb means energy is being added to or gained by the system, while emit means energy is being lost or released by the system. In this case, I believe the answer is true, as the electron is going from a higher to lower energy level and energy is being lost.

[505306205]

When an electron moves from a higher energy level to a lower energy level, it emits or releases energy. The release of energy is associated with a more stable state. Transitioning from n=4 to n=2 allows the electron to achieve a more stable state, and thus, it emits energy.