Balmer/Lyman Series [ENDORSED]

[Luke_Lucido_3B]

Can someone explain to me again why the chart goes up from a negative towards 0 when changing energy levels?

[Rochelle Ellison 2H]

When Bohr's model of the H atom was established, free electrons (not part of the atom) were considered to have 0 energy. Electrons closer to the nucleus have less energy than those that are farther away. Since free electrons are the farthest away (n=∞) and have 0 energy then in comparison electrons closer to the nucleus (n=1,2,3,4...∞) must have lower energy so they are given negative energy values.

[Luke_Lucido_3B]

Thank you that was very helpful

[AsthaPatel4B]

Can somebody explain the concept of the balmer/lyman series and why the balmer series covers the visible region and the lyman series covers the ultraviolet region? Thank you. :)