Quiz #2 Question #2 B

[Jordanmarshall]

Which electron transition in a hydrogen atom will cause the emission of a photon of higher frequency?
Why is the answer "a transition from n=5 to n=3" correct instead of "a transition from n=4 to n=3"??

[KC Navarro_1H]

Larger transitions like n=5 to n=3 yield lower wavelength with higher energy and smaller transitions like n=4 to n=3 yield the highest wavelength with the lowest energy. The reason for this is because bigger transitions give off more energy, so when an electron transitions to n=5 to n=3, it'd emit more energy than n=4 to n=3. Another example would be the ultraviolet Lyman Series, n=1; they have much lower wavelengths with very large transitions, giving off higher energies.

[Jaquelinne Rodriguez-Lopez 1L]

going from n=5 to n=3, the electron is moving 2 energy levels. whereas moving from m=4 to n=3, the electron is only moving one energy level. also remember, as an electron is going down energy levels, light is emitted. so it only makes sense that more energy in light form is emitted when moving from n=5 to n=3 (2 energy levels) than n=4 to n=3 (1 energy level). hope this helps :)

[204929947]

I believe that moving from n=5 to n=3 is higher frequency because you are releasing energy

[Surya Palavali 1D]

Jumping down 2 levels (from n=5 to n=3) is a larger jump distance, which creates a lower wavelength and thus higher energy as far as I know.

[Bryan Jiang 1F]

I believe that moving from n=5 to n=3 takes up more energy which makes the wavelength smaller, less frequency

When electrons are dropping from higher energy levels to lower energy levels, energy is RELEASED as a photon, not taken up. Since the drop from n=5 to n=3 is larger than the drop from n=4 to n=3, the light emitted from the former would have shorter wavelength and HIGHER frequency than the latter.