Balmer and Lyman series.

[gabbymaraziti]

Can someone please explain the significant of the Balmer and Lyman series'? I understand they are both sequences of lines corresponding to atomic transitions, but what is their use in this level of chemistry? Are the series going to be incorporated into questions, or are they provided to increase the level of understanding of general chem?

[Ashley Kao 1H]

I think that the significance of the Balmer and Lyman series is that they identify what kind of transition electrons make. The Balmer series classifies the transition electrons make when they begin in a higher shell end in the n=2 shell. This usually appears as visible light. On the other hand, the Lyman series entails electrons that transport from a higher shell to the n=1 shell. This appears as UV light.

[Cassidy Kohlenberger 3D]

The Lyman series requires the high energy of UV light. The Balmer series releases light in the visible region. Questions will assume you know this information when asking you to find the n levels (initial and final) of an electron. An example would be question 1A.15: In the ultraviolet spectrum of atomic hydrogen, a line is observed at 102.6 nm. Determine the values of n for the initial and final energy levels of the electron during the emission of energy that leads to this spectral line.
Since the question clarifies that the line is in the ultraviolet spectrum, we can assume that the electron's final energy level will be n=1 as it corresponds to the Lyman series. This is crucial information that will help you solve the problem correctly.