Let the potential energy of the hydrogen atom in the ground state be zero . Then its energy in the excited state will be

Options

A. 13.6 eV
B. 27. eV
C. 10.2 eV
D. 23.6eV

Answer

D

Explanation

The total energy in the ground
=P.E. + K.E. = U+K
But `therefore U = 0, E = K = + 13.6 eV` in the ground state
`therefore` K.E. = - (Total energy ) =+13.6 eV
But if the P.E. is not zero, then the total energy in the ground state = - 13.6 eV
Thus to make the P.E. zero , the value of the total energy should be 13.6 - (-13.6) = 27.2 eV
In the normal hydrogen atom, actual energy in the second orbit `= -(13.6)/(4) = - 3.4 eV.`
This is for the first excited state .
`therefore` The new value of the total energy
`= (-3.4+27.2) eV = 23.8 eV`