An electron in a hydrogen atom is initially in the fifth orbit
CHEMISTRY · Single correct · CBSE · Chemistry · Structure of Atom · Structure of Atom
Problem
An electron in a hydrogen atom is initially in the fifth orbit (n=5). More emission lines are observed in the complete spectrum than in the Balmer series because
(a) Balmer series allows transitions only ending at n=2, whereas the complete spectrum includes transitions terminating at n=1,2,3,…
(b) The Balmer series is confined to visible wavelengths, so transitions that emit ultraviolet or infrared photons are not recorded.
(c) The Balmer series requires the electron to return directly to the ground state (n=1), eliminating most possible downward jumps.
(d) In the Balmer series the electron must drop in a single step from n=5 to n=2; multi-step cascades through n=4 or n=3 do not produce Balmer lines.