IB Chemistry Topic S1.3.2 Hydrogen Emission Spectrum Revision Notes (SL/HL)

IB Chemistry Topic S1.3.2 Hydrogen Emission Spectrum Revision Notes (SL/HL) | RevisionDojo

Written by official IB examiners

The Emission Line Spectrum of Hydrogen: Evidence for Discrete Energy Levels

When a pure gaseous element like hydrogen is subjected to high voltage under reduced pressure, it emits light.
Passing this light through a prism produces a line emission spectrum, a series of distinct lines, each corresponding to a specific wavelength of light.
Unlike a continuous spectrum, which includes all wavelengths (like a rainbow), the line spectrum has clear gaps. But why do these gaps occur?

Quantization of Energy Levels

The hydrogen line spectrum arises because electrons in hydrogen atoms can only occupy specific, discrete energy levels.
When an electron absorbs energy, it "jumps" to a higher energy level (excited state).
When it falls back to a lower energy level, it releases energy in the form of a photon.
The energy of this photon corresponds precisely to the difference between the two energy levels.
Mathematically, the energy of an electron in a hydrogen atom is described by the equation: $$E_n = -R_H \frac{1}{n^2} $$ where:
1. $E_n$ = energy of the electron in the $n$-th energy level (in joules, $\text{J}$)
2. $R_H = 2.18 \times 10^{-18} \, \text{J}$ (Rydberg energy for hydrogen)

Nice try, unfortunately this paywall isn't as easy to bypass as you think. Want to help devleop the site? Join the team at https://revisiondojo.com/join-us. exercitation voluptate cillum ullamco excepteur sint officia do tempor Lorem irure minim Lorem elit id voluptate reprehenderit voluptate laboris in nostrud qui non Lorem nostrud laborum culpa sit occaecat reprehenderit

Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit.

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

The Emission Line Spectrum of Hydrogen: Evidence for Discrete Energy Levels

When a pure gaseous element like hydrogen is subjected to high voltage under reduced pressure, it emits light.
Passing this light through a prism produces a line emission spectrum, a series of distinct lines, each corresponding to a specific wavelength of light.
Unlike a continuous spectrum, which includes all wavelengths (like a rainbow), the line spectrum has clear gaps. But why do these gaps occur?

Quantization of Energy Levels

The hydrogen line spectrum arises because electrons in hydrogen atoms can only occupy specific, discrete energy levels.
When an electron absorbs energy, it "jumps" to a higher energy level (excited state).
When it falls back to a lower energy level, it releases energy in the form of a photon.
The energy of this photon corresponds precisely to the difference between the two energy levels.
Mathematically, the energy of an electron in a hydrogen atom is described by the equation: $$E_n = -R_H \frac{1}{n^2} $$ where:
1. $E_n$ = energy of the electron in the $n$-th energy level (in joules, $\text{J}$)
2. $R_H = 2.18 \times 10^{-18} \, \text{J}$ (Rydberg energy for hydrogen)

Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

Structure 1. Models of the particulate nature of matter5 subtopics

Structure 2. Models of bonding and structure4 subtopics

Structure 3. Classification of matter2 subtopics

Reactivity 1. What drives chemical reactions?4 subtopics

Reactivity 2. How much, how fast and how far?3 subtopics

Reactivity 3. What are the mechanisms of chemical change?4 subtopics

IB Chemistry S1.3.2 Hydrogen Emission Spectrum Notes

Structure 1. Models of the particulate nature of matter5 subtopics

Structure 2. Models of bonding and structure4 subtopics

Structure 3. Classification of matter2 subtopics

Reactivity 1. What drives chemical reactions?4 subtopics

Reactivity 2. How much, how fast and how far?3 subtopics

Reactivity 3. What are the mechanisms of chemical change?4 subtopics

The Emission Line Spectrum of Hydrogen: Evidence for Discrete Energy Levels

Quantization of Energy Levels

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

The Emission Line Spectrum of Hydrogen: Evidence for Discrete Energy Levels

Quantization of Energy Levels

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account