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Bohr's Model

Mediumchemistry

An electron in a hydrogen atom transitions from the third energy level to the first energy level. What is the wavelength of the photon emitted during this transition? (Given: R_H = 1.097 × 10^7 m^-1)

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About This Question

Subject
chemistry
Chapter
atomic structure
Topic
bohr's model
Difficulty
Medium
Year
2025
Tags
Rydberg formulaLyman serieselectron transitionBohr modelspectral lines

Solution

Correct Answer:

102.6 nm

Bohr's model defines the energy of each orbit in hydrogen as E_n = -13.6/n^2 eV, and the Rydberg formula 1/λ = R_H(1/n1^2 - 1/n2^2) relates wavelength to the transition. For the transition from n=3 to n=1 (Lyman series), we substitute n1=1 and n2=3: 1/λ = 1.097 × 10^7 × (1/1 - 1/9) = 1.097 × 10^7 × (8/9) = 9.751 × 10^6 m^-1. Therefore λ = 1/(9.751 × 10^6) = 1.026 × 10^-7 m = 102.6 nm. Option 121.5 nm is incorrect because it corresponds to the n=2 to n=1 transition, not n=3 to n=1. Option 656.3 nm is the Balmer series line for n=3 to n=2, which lies in the visible region. Option 97.2 nm corresponds to n=4 to n=1 in the Lyman series. This question tests the Rydberg formula, a core JEE topic under Bohr's atomic model and spectral line series. Plausibility check: all Lyman transitions produce UV photons below 122 nm, and 102.6 nm falls correctly in the UV range, confirming the answer.

This medium difficulty chemistry question is from the chapter atomic structure, covering the topic of bohr's model. It appeared in the 2025 exam.

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