The Rydberg Formula and the Hydrogen Atomic Spectrum

[Kayla Maldonado 1C]

I'm still confused as to if Rydberg's formula can work for only for the hydrogen emission spectrum? Why or Why not?

[Karyn How 1J]

Yes, the Rydberg formula only works for Hydrogen Spectrum because it was based on experimental data for hydrogen. For the multi-electron systems, you would need a more complicated model.

[Ally Huang- 1F]

The Rydberg equation works for the hydrogen emission spectrum and other one electron systems. It only works for systems with one electron because when there are multiple electrons, there is shielding, repulsion, and changing attractions of the electrons to the nucleus. Therefore, for systems with more than one electron there is no equation that could work for all of the unknowns present.

[Kendra Barreras 3E]

It can only work for Hydrogen, or other one electron systems because the Rydberg formula is used to predict the wavelength of light that results from a single electron moving between an atom's energy levels.

[Anokhi Patel 2B]

v = R {1/n1^2 - 1/n2^2}

In this equation for the book from the Rydberg equation, what do the series of n stand for? Of what "number" do they represent?

Thank you.