Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

Physics

Chapter

Atoms

Question:

Whenever a hydrogen atom emits a photon in the Balmer series

Options:

It need not emit any more photon

It may emit another photon in the Paschen series

It must emit another photon in the Lyman series

It may emit another photon in the Balmer series

Correct Answer:

It must emit another photon in the Lyman series

Explanation:

Since in spectral series of hydrogen atom, Lymen series lies lower Balmer series.

Any transition causing a photon to be emitted in the Balmer series must end at n=2. This must be followed by the transition from n=2 to n=1, emitting a photon of energy 10.2 eV, which corresponds to a wavelength of about 122 nm. This belongs to the Lyman series.