Question 2.33 (Sixth Edition)

[Steve Magana 2I]

Question: Which of the following increase when an electron in a lithium atom undergoes a transition from the 1s-orbital to a 2p-orbital? (a) Energy of the electron. (b) Value of n. (c) Value of l. (d) Radius of the atom.

Can someone please explain why they all increase? Thank you!

[Timothy_Yueh_4L]

(a) As shell level increases, the energy level of electrons also increase (linear relationship)
(b) The value of n directly correlates to the shell level therefore an increase from 1 to 2 would increases the value of n from 1 to 2.
(c) The value of l would increase because the electron moves from the s orbital to the p orbital which means that the l value would increase from 0 to 1.
(d) The radius of the atom increases as you increase the amount of energy shells, in the this case from n = 1 to n =2

[Schuyler_Howell_4D]

Energy will increase because it is dependent on n (n increases).

n increases from 1 to 2.

l increases because it is dependent on n as well (l can be 0 to n-1).

The radius of an atom is a function of n ( as you increase the " electron shells" the wider the atom) so it also increases. Think about this one as if you kept adding hula hoops around a beach ball like rings; the more you add the bigger the hula hoop has to be to fit around the ball and previous hoops.