## midterm Q.7b [ENDORSED]

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

Enzo_1I
Posts: 19
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 11:02 am

### midterm Q.7b

What is the significance/origin of the negative sign in En= -hR/n2 ?
why is the answer "E infinity = 0 " ? I don't understand how this relates to the origin of the negative sign.

Elijah E 1C
Posts: 15
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 11:02 am

### Re: midterm Q.7b

I think the negative sign is to reference the energy lost when changing atomic level.

Lily Emerson 1I
Posts: 27
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 11:02 am

### Re: midterm Q.7b  [ENDORSED]

the negative sign just means that bound electrons have lower energy than free electrons. the E(infinity) indicates that, since a free electron could be thought of as just being in a very far-off shell (high n value)

Isabel Jabara 1C
Posts: 34
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 11:03 am

### Re: midterm Q.7b

I think E infinity = 0 is meant to show that the highest energy level is 0, and as you approach n=1 you keep releasing energy, and if you are releasing energy from a value of 0 it must be negative.