FAD1005 : CHEMISTRY 1

Dr. Fauzani Md. Salleh

Chemistry Division
Centre for Foundation Studies in Science
* To explain the existence of electron energy levels in an
atom.
* To describe the formation of line spectrum of hydrogen
atom.
* To calculate the energy of electron
* To differentiate between line spectrum and continuous
spectrum
* To perform calculations involving the Rydberg equation for
Lyman, Balmer, Paschen, Brackett and Pfund series
*
 ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
Contains radiation in all various forms such as
x-rays, visible light, ultraviolet, radio waves etc.

Travel through space with the same speed, c

(the speed of light)

sources of radiation might come from the sun,

light bulbs, heated object, lightning flashes etc
 ELECTROMAGNETIC spectrum
Is a range of electromagnetic energies arrayed in order of
increasing or decreasing wavelength or frequency
Is a series of rays that is made up of radiation in all sorts
of wavelength

Note: Long wavelength low frequency

Short wavelength high frequency

Fig 7: The electromagnetic spectrum

 SPECTRUM
Defined as a series of colors or a set of colors or a
multicolored band.

There are two types of spectrum

Continuous spectrum

Line/Discrete spectrum
 SPECTRUM
Defined as a series of colors or a set of colors or a
multicolored band.
Contains an unbroken
sequence of frequencies over
a relatively wide range
The spectrum is made up of
Continuous all wavelengths of visible
Spectrum light
Has no definite lines that
separate the colors
Spectrum
Example : rainbow

Consists of discrete lines of

Line/Discrete different wavelength.
Spectrum It is a discontinuous lines
produced by excited atoms
and ions as they fall back to a
lower energy level.
 Continuous
Spectrum
Fig 8: Continuous spectrum of visible light

Spectrum
9(a)

Line/Discrete
9(b)
Spectrum

Fig 9: Line spectrum (a) Emission/

Atomic spectrum and (b)
Absorption spectrum of visible light
 White light or sunlight is passed through a
narrow beam then through a prism- a rainbow
colours is produced on the screen (detector).
This spectrum known as continuous spectrum

Fig 6: The formation of Continuous spectrum

 Emission/ Atomic Spectrum
Is the characteristic range of radiations it emits when it is
heated, bombarded by electron or ions, or absorbs
photons.

May show as a continuous spectrum or a line spectrum.

 Emission/ Atomic Spectrum show a
line spectrum
A line spectrum produced by heating atomic vapour.
The light emitted is then passed through a prism which
divides the beam into a series of lines

Fig 7: The formation of line spectrum of Fig 8: The energy level for
Emission/Atomic spectrum Emission/Atomic spectrum
 Produced by passing the white light from a source
through the cold gas the resulting light (unexcited
sample) absorbs certain wavelength of light.
as a result, dark lines appear on the continuous bright
background.

Fig 10: The energy level

Fig 9: The formation of line spectrum of of absorption spectrum
Absorption spectrum
Energy supply:ground state
excited state ground state
Hydrogen gas is filled into a gas discharge tube
Electric spark is passed through hydrogen gas in tube
Energy supplied is absorbed by the electrons of hydrogen atoms causes
them to be promoted from the ground states to higher energy level.
These electrons are unstable at their excited states, then fall to lower
energy levels and emit light at a particular wavelength.
Each line corresponds to a different wavelength.

Fig 10: The formation of hydrogen spectrum

 Series of hydrogen spectrum: transition of electrons between
two energy levels (from higher to lower level) which then
produce emission series of lines.

Fig 11: The series of hydrogen spectrum

These series of lines were named according to the named of scientists who found them.
Table 1 : The emission series of hydrogen spectrum
Level which electron Higher level, Name of series Spectrum region
drops, nf ni
1 2,3,. Lyman Ultraviolet
2 3, 4,. Balmer UV/Visible
3 4, 5,.. Paschen Infrared
4 5, 6,. Brackett Infrared
5 6, 7,. Pfund Infrared

Fig 12: The energy level according to the series

 (c)

(b)

(a)

Fig 13: The energy level for (a) Lymann (b) Balmer and (c) Paschen series

Lymann Balmer Paschen Brackett Pfund

1st line = 2 to = 3 to = 4 to = 5 to = 6 to
() = 1 = 2 = 3 = 4 = 5

2nd line = 3 to =4 to = 5 to = 6 to = 7 to
() = 1 = 2 = 3 = 4 = 5
Fig 14: The line spectrum with specific wavelength for (a) Lymann (b) Balmer and
(c) Paschen series
Lymann Balmer Paschen Brackett Pfund
1st line = 2 to = 3 to = 4 to = 5 to = 6 to
() = 1 = 2 = 3 = 4 = 5

2nd line = 3 to =4 to = 5 to = 6 to = 7 to
() = 1 = 2 = 3 = 4 = 5
The wavelength emitted by the transition of
electron between two energy levels can be
calculated by using the Rydberg equation:

1 1 1 1 1 1
RH 2 2 or RH 2 2
n
n1 n2 f n i

n1, n2 = intergers, 1, 2, 3. (n1 < n2)

RH = Rydberg constant (1.097 x 107 m-1)
= wavelength

Since should have a positive value, therefore 1 < 2

where, 1 = and 2 =
 Example

Calculate the wavelength of the fourth line in the Balmer

series of the hydrogen spectrum.

1 1 1
RH 2 2
Line Balmer n n
f i
1st line = 3 to
= 2
1 1 1
2nd line =4 to 1.097 10 2 2
7

= 2 2 6
3rd line = 5 to 1
= 2 2.44 106 m 1
4th line = 6 to

1nm
= 2 4.102 10 m 7
9
410nm
1 10 m

1 = 1.0 109 m
 Example

Calculate the wavelength of the third line in the Brackett

series of the hydrogen spectrum.

Line Brackett
1st line = 5 to
= 4

2nd line = 6 to
= 4

3rd line = 7 to
= 4

1 = 1.0 109 nm
 Exercise

Calculate the wavelength of the second line in the Balmer series.

 Exercise

A light with a wavelength of 656 nm was discovered to be

one of the line that falls in the visible region of the
hydrogen emission spectrum. This line is produced by the
transition of an electron from

A n=3 to n=1
B n=3 to n=2
C n=4 to n=2
D n=5 to n=3
 Example

Calculate the energy liberated when an electron from the fifth

energy level falls to the second energy level in the hydrogen atom .

(- ve sign indicates that energy is released)

 Exercise

Calculate the energy change for the transition of electron from

n=3 to n=2.
 CONVERGENCE OF THE SPECTRAL LINES
is a continuous lines which is closer to each other.
Shows that the difference between successive
energy levels becomes smaller with increasing
distance of the energy levels from the nucleus.
The lines become smaller and smaller towards
the low wavelength end
the high frequency end of the spectrum
 CONVERGENCE LIMIT
where the converging spectral lines merge together
It is represented by the broken lines

At this point
the nucleus can no longer hold the electron
The electron has reached n=
The electron free from the attractive force of
the nucleus
Hydrogen atom is ionized
Fig 15: The line spectrum for Lymann series

Fig 16: The line spectrum for Balmer series

 Example

Calculate the wavelength of the converging limit in the

Balmer series of the hydrogen spectrum.

1 1 1 Since should have a positive value,

RH 2 2
n n therefore
i f
1 1 1
1.097 107 2 2
2

1
2.7425 106 m 1

1nm
3.646 10 m
7
9
364.6nm
1 10 m
Thank you