Simple Chem Problem
Hey Basil,
I'm having trouble with this problem on setting it up. Its pretty simple but I don't know what equation to use.
1) Calculate the wavelength, and the frequency for the series limit line in the Pfund series for the hydrogen atom.
Thanks for the help =)
March 13, 2013
4 Comments • Newest first
when in doubt put inertia
Is this high school chemistry?
"series limit" (highest it can go) for hydrogen atom means infinity, and "pfund series" implies n=5
So you are trying to calculate the wavelength and frequency for an emission from ni=infinity to nf=5; or vice versa the amount of energy needed to add in order to remove the electron from the atom:
1/y = -Rh(1/ni^2 - 1/nf^2)
1/y = Rh(1/25) because 1/infinity =0
And frequency can be calculated by the v=c/y relation, where c=2.998 x 10^8 m/s.
Don't you use the Rydberg formula with n=5 for the Pfund series?