The total energy of a hydrogen atom in its ground state is `-13.6 eV`. If the potential energy in the first excited state is taken as zero then the total energy in the ground state will be

Options

A. `-3.4eV`
B. `3.4eV`
C. `-6.8eV`
D. `6.8eV`

Answer

C

Explanation

The total energy in the first excited state is `-(13.6)/(4)eV=-3.4eV.`
The consists of the kinetic energy of 3.4 eV and the potential energy of `-6.8eV`. In order to take the PE here as zero, we add .8 eV to all energy levels. The total energy in the ground state then becomes `(-13.6+6.8)eV=-6.8eV`.