When I was taught energy levels in a hydrogen atom – I was given the formula ;Energy = -13.6/n^2.
(1)What purpose does that minus sign signify?
(2)If energy in the first Bohr orbit is -13.6 and in the second one is -3.4 is:
(a) The energy in the second orbit greater as
-3.4 > -13.6 or
(b) The energy in the first orbit is greater as
|-13. 6| > |-3.4|?
Is there a better way to look at the energy values (as the minus sign is confusing)?
In: 12
0 energy would be a free electron. If it had positive energy, then its a free electron moving around with kinetic energy. If it has negative energy, we know it’s tied to an atom and we can figure out exactly how much energy it takes to free the electron.
The 0 point for energy is completely arbitrary, but we just chose that 0 point because it makes the math easier.
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