If the wave length of 1st line of Balmer series of hydrogen is 6561Å, the wavelength of the 2nd line of series will be:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → 4860 Å
Using Rydberg's formula,
$\frac{1}{λ}=R_H\left(\frac{1}{{n_f}^2}-\frac{1}{{n_i}^2}\right)$
$∴\frac{1}{λ_1}=R_H\left(\frac{1}{2^2}-\frac{1}{3^2}\right)$ $[n_f=2,n_i=3]$
$\frac{1}{λ_1}=R_H\left(\frac{9-4}{36}\right)=\frac{5R_H}{36}$
$λ_1=\frac{36}{5R_H}$
$\frac{1}{λ_2}=R_H\left(\frac{1}{2^2}-\frac{1}{4^2}\right)$ $[n_f=2,n_i=4]$
$\frac{1}{λ_2}=R_H\left(\frac{1}{4}-\frac{1}{16}\right)=\frac{3R_H}{16}$
$λ_2=\frac{16}{3R_H}$
$\frac{λ_1}{λ_2}=\frac{36}{5R_H}×\frac{3R_H}{16}=\frac{27}{20}$
$⇒λ_2=\frac{20}{27}λ_1=\frac{20}{27}×6561Å$
$=4860Å$