Q.Calculate the energy associated with the first orbit of He+. What is the radius of this orbit?
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🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Concept understanding — Energy Level Quantization
Energy Level Quantization: From Intuition to Precision
Imagine you're climbing a smooth ramp. You can stop at any height — 1 metre, 1.5 metres, 2.1 metres — anywhere you like. That's how we intuitively think about energy in everyday life: continuous, like a slide.
Now imagine a staircase. You can stand on step 1, step 2, or step 3 — but you cannot stand halfway between step 2 and step 3. There's no such place. The steps are discrete, not continuous.
Energy level quantization is the idea that in the microscopic world of atoms and molecules, energy behaves like a staircase, not a ramp. Electrons in an atom cannot have just any energy — they can only occupy specific, allowed energy levels. Everything else is forbidden.
Why does this happen? The core intuition
In the classical world, an electron orbiting a nucleus would continuously radiate energy, spiral inward, and crash — atoms would be unstable. But atoms are stable. Nature solved this problem by imposing a rule: the electron's angular momentum (and therefore its energy) can only take certain discrete values.
Think of a guitar string. It can only vibrate at specific frequencies — its fundamental and harmonics. You can't pluck it to produce a frequency halfway between two harmonics. The string's vibration is quantized by its boundaries. Similarly, an electron bound to a nucleus is confined in space, and that confinement forces its energy to be quantized.
Quantization is not a mysterious extra rule — it emerges naturally whenever a wave (like an electron's matter wave) is confined. Confinement creates standing waves, and standing waves only exist at specific frequencies.
The precise statement
For a bound system (like an electron in an atom), the total energy E of the system can only take certain discrete values:
E=E1,E2,E3,…
where each En is a specific, fixed number. The integer n (1, 2, 3, …) is called the principal quantum number. The lowest energy level (n=1) is the ground state; higher levels (n>1) are excited states.
For the hydrogen atom, the allowed energies are given by:
En=−n213.6 eV
So:
- n=1: E1=−13.6 eV (ground state)
- n=2: E2=−3.4 eV
- n=3: E3=−1.51 eV
- and so on, approaching 0 eV as n→∞ (the ionization limit)
The negative sign means the electron is bound to the nucleus. Zero energy corresponds to the electron being free (ionized). The more negative the energy, the more tightly bound the electron.
How do we know this is real?
The most direct evidence comes from atomic spectra. When an electron jumps from a higher energy level to a lower one, it emits a photon of light with energy exactly equal to the difference:
ΔE=Ehigher−Elower=hf
where h is Planck's constant and f is the frequency of the emitted light. …
The key idea is that for hydrogen-like ions (one electron around a nucleus of charge +Ze), the energy and radius are scaled from the hydrogen atom by factors of Z2 and 1/Z respectively.
Step 1: Recall the formulas for a hydrogen-like atom.
For an ion with atomic number Z, the energy of the n-th orbit is
En=−13.6n2Z2 eV
and the radius is
rn=0.529Zn2 A˚.
Step 2: Apply for He+.
Here Z=2 and the first orbit corresponds to n=1.
Step 3: Calculate energy.
E1=−13.6×1222=−13.6×4=−54.4 eV. …
For a hydrogen-like ion, the energy of the n-th orbit is En=−13.6n2Z2 eV and the radius is rn=0.529Zn2 Å. For He+ (Z=2) in the first orbit (n=1), the energy is −54.4 eV and the radius is 0.2645 Å.
The key to solving this lies in understanding energy level quantization in hydrogen-like atoms. Bohr’s model, though not the full quantum picture, gives exact results for one-electron ions like He+ (helium nucleus with one electron removed). The electron is bound to a nucleus of charge +Ze, where Z is the atomic number. For helium, Z=2.
Why does this matter? Because the Coulomb attraction is stronger than in hydrogen (Z=1), so the electron is pulled in tighter — the orbits are smaller and the binding energy is larger. The formulas for hydrogen simply scale with Z2 for energy and 1/Z for radius.
Let’s work through it step by step.
-
Recall the standard formulas for a hydrogen-like atom.
For an electron in the n-th orbit:
- Energy: En=−n213.6Z2 eV
- Radius: rn=Z0.529n2 A˚ These come from balancing centripetal force with Coulomb force and quantizing angular momentum. The constants 13.6 eV (Rydberg energy) and 0.529 Å (Bohr radius) are for hydrogen (Z=1, n=1).
En=−13.6n2Z2 eV,rn=0.529Zn2 A˚
-
Identify the parameters for He+.
- Atomic number: Z=2
- Orbit number: n=1 (first orbit, ground state)
-
Calculate the energy.
Substitute Z=2, n=1 into the energy formula:
E1=−13.6×1222=−13.6×4=−54.4 eV
The negative sign means the electron is bound — you’d need to supply +54.4 eV to ionize it.
A common mistake is to forget squaring Z or to use Z=1 out of habit. For He+, Z=2, so the energy is four times that of hydrogen’s ground state (−13.6 eV), not double. …
Showing the 12 most recent of 13 on this concept.
- COMEDK 2026Set 2026-A1 markMCQQ.The frequency of photon which is emitted during a transition of electron of He+ion from fifth energy level to third energy level will be: (A) 1.34×10−14 s−1 (B) 9.39×1014 s−1 (C) 2.34×1014 s−1 (D) 8.29×10−14 s−1
›Reveal solutionSolution
For a hydrogen-like ion, the transition energy is given by ΔE=RHZ2(nf21−ni21), and the photon frequency is ν=ΔE/h. For He+ (Z=2) from n=5 to n=3, the frequency is 9.39×1014s−1, which corresponds to option (B).
The key concept here is the Bohr model for hydrogen-like ions (ions with only one electron, like He+). The energy levels depend on the square of the atomic number Z, so the transition energy (and thus the photon frequency) scales with Z2. The problem asks for the frequency, not the wavelength, so we directly use ν=ΔE/h.
- Recall the energy level formula For a hydrogen-like atom, the energy of the n-th level is:
En=−n2RHZ2
where RH=2.18×10−18J is the Rydberg constant (in energy units), and Z=2 for He+.
- Find the energy difference The transition is from ni=5 to nf=3:
ΔE=E3−E5=RHZ2(321−521)
Compute the bracket:
91−251=22525−9=22516
So:
ΔE=(2.18×10−18)×(4)×22516
- Calculate numerically First, 4×22516=22564≈0.28444. Then:
ΔE=2.18×10−18×0.28444≈6.20×10−19J
(More precisely: 2.18×10−18×64/225=(139.52/225)×10−18=0.62009×10−18=6.2009×10−19J.)
- Convert energy to frequency Use Planck’s relation ΔE=hν, with h=6.626×10−34J⋅s:
- COMEDK 2026Set 2026-M1 markMCQQ.The Bohr orbit of the hydrogen atom ( n=1 ) is 0.530Ao. The radius of the first excited state orbit in Ao is: (A) 0.16 (B) 5.21 (C) 1.66 (D) 2.12
›Reveal solutionSolution
The radius of a Bohr orbit scales as n2, so the first excited state (n=2) has a radius four times the ground-state radius, giving 4×0.530=2.12 Å. The correct option is (D).
The key idea is that in the Bohr model of the hydrogen atom, the radius of the n-th orbit is proportional to n2. The ground state (n=1) radius is given; the first excited state corresponds to n=2. So we simply multiply by 22=4.
- Recall the Bohr radius formula The radius of the n-th orbit in hydrogen is
rn=n2a0
where a0 is the Bohr radius (the radius for n=1). This comes from balancing the Coulomb force and centripetal force, with quantized angular momentum.
-
Identify the given and required states
- Ground state: n=1, r1=0.530 Å.
- First excited state: n=2 (since the first excited state is the next energy level above the ground state).
-
Apply the scaling
r2=22×r1=4×0.530=2.12 A˚
- Match with the options The value 2.12 Å corresponds to option (D). …
- COMEDK 2025Set 2025-E1 markMCQQ.The ratio of the difference between the radii of 3rd and 4th orbits of the He+and those of Li2+ is: (A) 2:3 (B) 3:1 (C) 1:3 (D) 3:2
›Reveal solutionSolution
The key idea is that the Bohr radius for a hydrogen-like ion scales as n2/Z. Computing the difference r4−r3 for He⁺ and Li²⁺ and taking the ratio gives 3:2, so the answer is (D).
Concept & Intuition
In the Bohr model, the radius of the n-th orbit for a hydrogen-like ion (one electron, nuclear charge Ze) is
rn=Zn2a0,
where a0 is the Bohr radius (a constant). The difference between two orbits depends only on the change in n2 divided by Z. For He⁺, Z=2; for Li²⁺, Z=3. The ratio of the differences (r4−r3) for the two ions simplifies to a simple fraction of their Z values, because the n2 part cancels.
Step-by-step solution
- Write the general formula For any hydrogen-like ion:
rn=Zn2a0.
Here a0 is the same for all ions.
- Compute the difference for He⁺ (Z=2)
r4−r3=242a0−232a0=216a0−29a0=27a0.
- Compute the difference for Li²⁺ (Z=3)
r4−r3=342a0−332a0=316a0−39a0=37a0.
- Take the ratio Li2+ differenceHe+ difference=7a0/37a0/2=1/31/2=23. …
- COMEDK 2024Set 2024-A1 markMCQQ.The ratio of the first three radii of Bohr's atom is: (A) 1:4:9 (B) 1:5:9 (C) 1:4:27 (D) 1:2:3
›Reveal solutionSolution
The radii of Bohr orbits scale as n2, so the first three radii are in the ratio 12:22:32=1:4:9. The correct option is (A).
The key concept here is the Bohr model of the atom, which quantizes the angular momentum of an electron orbiting the nucleus. From this quantization, the radius of the n-th orbit is derived to be proportional to n2, where n is the principal quantum number (1, 2, 3, …). This is a direct consequence of balancing the Coulomb force with the centripetal force and imposing angular momentum quantization.
Why this works:
Instead of memorizing the formula, think of it this way: the electron’s orbit is stable only when its angular momentum is an integer multiple of h/2π. This forces the radius to grow as the square of the orbit number. So the first three radii are simply in the ratio of the squares of 1, 2, and 3.
Let’s walk through the derivation step by step.
- Start with the Bohr quantization condition The angular momentum of the electron in the n-th orbit is
mvrn=n2πh
where m is the electron mass, v its speed, rn the radius of the n-th orbit, and h Planck’s constant.
- Apply the Coulomb force as the centripetal force The electrostatic attraction between the nucleus (charge +Ze) and the electron (charge −e) provides the centripetal force:
rn2ke2=rnmv2
where k=1/(4πϵ0). For hydrogen, Z=1.
- Eliminate v between the two equations From step 1, v=2πmrnnh. Substitute into step 2:
rn2ke2=rnm(2πmrnnh)2
Simplify:
- COMEDK 2024Set 2024-E1 markMCQQ.What is the wave number (Units cm−1) of the longest wave length transition in the Balmer series of Hydrogen spectrum? Z=1 for H (A) 27419.6 (B) 15233 (C) 39605.6 (D) 1354
›Reveal solutionSolution
The longest wavelength transition in the Balmer series corresponds to the smallest energy jump within that series, which is from n=3 to n=2. Using the Rydberg formula, the wave number is 15233 cm−1, so the correct option is (B).
The Balmer series describes transitions in hydrogen where the electron falls to the n=2 energy level. The longest wavelength means the smallest energy photon emitted, which occurs for the smallest possible energy difference — that is, from the nearest higher level, n=3 to n=2. The wave number ν~ (in cm−1) is directly proportional to the energy difference, so we use the Rydberg formula for hydrogen:
ν~=RH(nf21−ni21)
where RH=109677 cm−1 (the Rydberg constant for hydrogen), nf=2 (Balmer series), and ni=3 for the longest wavelength transition.
-
Identify the transition: For the Balmer series, the final level is nf=2. The smallest energy jump (longest wavelength) is from the lowest possible initial level above 2, which is ni=3. Any higher ni would give a larger energy difference and thus a shorter wavelength.
-
Plug into the Rydberg formula:
ν~=109677(221−321)
Compute the fractions:
41−91=369−4=365
- Multiply:
ν~=109677×365
First, divide 109677 by 36:
109677÷36=3046.58333…
Then multiply by 5:
3046.58333…×5=15232.9166… …
-
- COMEDK 2023Set 2023-E1 markMCQQ.The energy of an electron in the ground state of Hydrogen atom is −2.18×10−18 J. What would be the energy associated with the second excited state of Li ? (A) −2.18×10−18 J (B) −4.905×10−18 J (C) −0.242×10−18 J (D) −3.26×10−18 J
›Reveal solutionSolution
Using En=−2.18×10−18(Z2/n2) J for the one-electron ion Li2+ (Z=3) in its second excited state (n=3): Z2/n2=9/9=1, so E=−2.18×10−18 J.
The Bohr energy of a hydrogen-like (one-electron) species is
En=−2.18×10−18 n2Z2 J
Species: "Li" as a hydrogen-like ion means Li2+, so Z=3. …
- COMEDK 2023Set 2023-M1 markMCQQ.Bohr's radius of 2 nd orbit of Be3+ is equal to that of (A) 4th orbit of hydrogen (B) 2nd orbit of He+ (C) 3rd obit of Li2+ (D) 1st orbit of hydrogen
›Reveal solutionSolution
The Bohr radius scales as rn∝n2/Z. For Be3+ (Z=4), the 2nd orbit gives n2/Z=4/4=1, the same value as hydrogen's 1st orbit (1/1=1).
Bohr radius:
rn=r0Zn2,r0=0.529A˚.
For Be3+ (Z=4), 2nd orbit (n=2):
r=r0422=r0⋅1=r0.
Compare with the options (n2/Z):
- (A) H, n=4: 16/1=16.
- (B) He+, n=2: 4/2=2. …
- COMEDK 2022Set 20221 markMCQQ.The spectrum of He+ is similar to (A) H (B) Li+ (C) Na (D) He+
›Reveal solutionSolution
Checking the options: H (1 electron - hydrogen-like, YES). Li+ has 2 electrons (not one-electron). Na has 11 electrons. Option (D) merely repeats He+.
Concept: Hydrogen-like (one-electron) species show a spectrum of the same FORM as hydrogen, because the Bohr/Schrodinger treatment applies exactly:
E_n = -13.6 Z^2 / n^2 eV …
- COMEDK 2022Set 20221 markMCQQ.The Paschen series of hydrogen spectrum lies in which region? (A) UV region (B) IR region (C) Visible region (D) Microwave region
›Reveal solutionSolution
The Paschen series therefore lies in the infrared (IR) region.
Concept: Series in the hydrogen spectrum, classified by the lower level n1:
Lyman (n1 = 1) -> ULTRAVIOLET
Balmer (n1 = 2) -> VISIBLE
Paschen (n1 = 3) -> INFRARED
Brackett(n1 = 4) -> infrared …
- COMEDK 2021Set 20211 markMCQQ.The total number of nodes are given by (A) (n+1) (B) (n−l−1) (C) (n−1) (D) (n−l+1)
›Reveal solutionSolution
The total node count depends only on the principal quantum number: n - 1.
Concept: Nodes in an atomic orbital.
- Number of radial (spherical) nodes = n - l - 1
- Number of angular (nodal planes) = l
Total nodes = (n - l - 1) + l = n - 1. …
- COMEDK 2021Set 20211 markMCQQ.Which of the following series of transitions in the spectrum of hydrogen atom fall in visible region? (A) Balmer series (B) Paschen series (C) Brackett series (D) Lyman series
›Reveal solutionSolution
Only the Balmer series lies in the visible region.
Concept: Hydrogen spectral series and the region each falls in.
- Lyman series (n -> 1): ULTRAVIOLET
- Balmer series (n -> 2): VISIBLE (H-alpha 656 nm red, H-beta 486 nm, H-gamma 434 nm, H-delta 410 nm) …
- COMEDK 2021Set 20211 markMCQQ.The Lyman series of hydrogen spectrum lies in which region (A) Infrared region (B) Visible region (C) Ultraviolet region (D) X-ray region
›Reveal solutionSolution
That wavelength range lies in the ULTRAVIOLET region (roughly 10-400 nm), not the visible (400-700 nm) or the infrared.
Concept: Hydrogen emission series and their spectral regions.
The Lyman series consists of transitions from n = 2, 3, 4, ... down to n = 1. These are the largest energy gaps in the hydrogen atom (the n=2 -> n=1 line alone is 10.2 eV, lambda = 121.6 nm), giving the shortest wavelengths of the H spectrum, from about 91 nm to 122 n …
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