H-Atom ($E_{n}=-\frac{hR}{n^{2}}$)

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Is there a limit to the energy level an electron can reach? I know that n=1 is the lowest level for an atom, but does it cap around a specific higher energy level?

Isabella Sanzi 2E
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Joined: Thu Jul 13, 2017 3:00 am

I do not think that there is a limit on the energy level that an excited electron can reach. If enough energy is used, an electron will respond accordingly. I suppose that there is a practical limit to how much energy we (as experimenters) can input into a system, which would act as the only limitation that an electron could reach. I hope this helps!

Thuy-Anh Bui 1I
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There is no specific cut off for the highest energy level, but most elements have energy levels from n=1 to about n=6-7. This is because n=1-7 is the range of quantum numbers seen in the periodic table of elements (7 rows = 7 energy levels). Most diagrams draw the energy levels up to n=6-7 and then write infinity (no limit) for everything above that. As the electron moves away from the nucleus, it feels less and less of the nuclear pull and will eventually be ionized, but this depends on the element.
Last edited by Thuy-Anh Bui 1I on Thu Oct 19, 2017 5:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.

StephanieRusnak
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I think theoretically, n can be infinitely large but realistically they would not be larger than 7-9

Amy Zheng 2l
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Re: Question about energy levels  [ENDORSED]

There is no limit

Misa Belser 3C
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I don 't think there is a limit

kaitlindaugherty3L
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The limit does not exist.

Julie Steklof 1A
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I have not seen any energy levels higher than n=9.

colecabling1A
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