NVAEasyJEE 2023Bohr's Model & Hydrogen Spectrum

JEE Physics 2023 Question with Solution

The wavelength of the radiation emitted is λ0\lambda_0 when an electron jumps from the second excited state to the first excited state of the hydrogen atom. If the electron jumps from the third excited state to the second orbit of the hydrogen atom, the wavelength of the radiation emitted will be 20xλ0\frac{20}{x} \lambda_0. The value of xx is:

Answer

Correct answer:27

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: Radiation of wavelength λ0\lambda_0 is emitted for the transition from second excited state to first excited state, that is n=3n=2n=3 \to n=2. For the second transition, the electron goes from third excited state to second orbit, that is n=4n=2n=4 \to n=2.

Find: The value of xx in λ=20xλ0\lambda = \frac{20}{x}\lambda_0.

Using the Rydberg relation for hydrogen:

1λ=R(1nf21ni2)\frac{1}{\lambda} = R\left(\frac{1}{n_f^2}-\frac{1}{n_i^2}\right)

For the first transition n=3n=2n=3 \to n=2,

1λ0=R(122132)\frac{1}{\lambda_0} = R\left(\frac{1}{2^2}-\frac{1}{3^2}\right) 1λ0=R(1419)=R(536)\frac{1}{\lambda_0} = R\left(\frac{1}{4}-\frac{1}{9}\right)=R\left(\frac{5}{36}\right)

For the second transition n=4n=2n=4 \to n=2,

1λ=R(122142)\frac{1}{\lambda} = R\left(\frac{1}{2^2}-\frac{1}{4^2}\right) 1λ=R(14116)=R(316)\frac{1}{\lambda} = R\left(\frac{1}{4}-\frac{1}{16}\right)=R\left(\frac{3}{16}\right)

Now take the ratio:

λ0λ=536316=5×1636×3=2027\frac{\lambda_0}{\lambda} = \frac{\frac{5}{36}}{\frac{3}{16}} = \frac{5\times 16}{36\times 3} = \frac{20}{27}

Hence,

λ=2027λ0\lambda = \frac{20}{27}\lambda_0

Comparing with λ=20xλ0\lambda = \frac{20}{x}\lambda_0, we get

x=27x = 27

Therefore, the value of xx is 2727.

Ratio-Based Derivation

Given: Two hydrogen atom transitions, 323 \to 2 and 424 \to 2.

Find: The number xx in 20xλ0\frac{20}{x}\lambda_0.

For hydrogen, wavelength is inversely proportional to the energy gap, so

1λ0(122132)=536\frac{1}{\lambda_0} \propto \left(\frac{1}{2^2}-\frac{1}{3^2}\right)=\frac{5}{36}

and

1λ(122142)=316\frac{1}{\lambda} \propto \left(\frac{1}{2^2}-\frac{1}{4^2}\right)=\frac{3}{16}

Therefore,

λ0λ=536316=2027\frac{\lambda_0}{\lambda} = \frac{\frac{5}{36}}{\frac{3}{16}} = \frac{20}{27}

So,

λ=2027λ0\lambda = \frac{20}{27}\lambda_0

Thus, the correct numerical value is 2727.

Common mistakes

  • Treating the second excited state as n=2n=2 is incorrect because the ground state is n=1n=1, first excited state is n=2n=2, and second excited state is n=3n=3. Always convert excited-state language to the correct principal quantum number first.

  • Using the wavelength formula directly instead of its reciprocal form can cause ratio errors. In hydrogen transitions, apply 1λ=R(1nf21ni2)\frac{1}{\lambda}=R\left(\frac{1}{n_f^2}-\frac{1}{n_i^2}\right) and only then invert if needed.

  • Interchanging initial and final levels gives a negative quantity inside the bracket, which is not appropriate for emitted radiation here. For emission, use higher level as nin_i and lower level as nfn_f.

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