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Why is the principal energy of an electron lower for excited electrons in a higher energy state?


Energy required to remove an electron from HeCan a battery powered by iron and air really provide a feasible power source for automobiles?Calculating the ionization energy for hydrogenLower an electron energy level by pressureIf d-electrons are such poor shielders, why do trends increase more gradually across the d-block than the s or p-block?Wavelength of an electron removed from an atom of hydrogenWhy are higher-energy bonds preferred over lower-energy ones?State symbol for electronIonisation energy is lower for higher energy shell?What is the maximum number of emission lines when the excited electron of a H atom in n = 6 drops to ground state?













5












$begingroup$


Several places state the 'principal energy of an electron' can be calculated as such:



$$E = frac2π^2mZ^2e^4n^2h^2$$



Another equation I found was:



$$E = -fracE_0n^2,$$



where $$E_0 = pu13.6 eV~(pu1 eV = pu1.602e-19 J)$$



As seen in these equations, the greater the principal number ($n$) of the electron, the lower the principal energy $E$ of this electron.



However, the principal number $n$ is associated with higher energy states. The farther from the electron, the higher the energy state of this electron.



I seem to be fumbling the concept of 'principal energy of an electron.' What is the difference between the 'energy state' associated with the principal number, and the 'principal energy' of an electron? What exactly do the 'principal energy' equations mean? I read somewhere that it would be the energy it would take to "unbind" or ionize the electron, which would make sense, but I have not seen 'principal energy' explained as the ionization energy of an electron anywhere else.










share|improve this question









New contributor




chompion is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.







$endgroup$
















    5












    $begingroup$


    Several places state the 'principal energy of an electron' can be calculated as such:



    $$E = frac2π^2mZ^2e^4n^2h^2$$



    Another equation I found was:



    $$E = -fracE_0n^2,$$



    where $$E_0 = pu13.6 eV~(pu1 eV = pu1.602e-19 J)$$



    As seen in these equations, the greater the principal number ($n$) of the electron, the lower the principal energy $E$ of this electron.



    However, the principal number $n$ is associated with higher energy states. The farther from the electron, the higher the energy state of this electron.



    I seem to be fumbling the concept of 'principal energy of an electron.' What is the difference between the 'energy state' associated with the principal number, and the 'principal energy' of an electron? What exactly do the 'principal energy' equations mean? I read somewhere that it would be the energy it would take to "unbind" or ionize the electron, which would make sense, but I have not seen 'principal energy' explained as the ionization energy of an electron anywhere else.










    share|improve this question









    New contributor




    chompion is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.







    $endgroup$














      5












      5








      5





      $begingroup$


      Several places state the 'principal energy of an electron' can be calculated as such:



      $$E = frac2π^2mZ^2e^4n^2h^2$$



      Another equation I found was:



      $$E = -fracE_0n^2,$$



      where $$E_0 = pu13.6 eV~(pu1 eV = pu1.602e-19 J)$$



      As seen in these equations, the greater the principal number ($n$) of the electron, the lower the principal energy $E$ of this electron.



      However, the principal number $n$ is associated with higher energy states. The farther from the electron, the higher the energy state of this electron.



      I seem to be fumbling the concept of 'principal energy of an electron.' What is the difference between the 'energy state' associated with the principal number, and the 'principal energy' of an electron? What exactly do the 'principal energy' equations mean? I read somewhere that it would be the energy it would take to "unbind" or ionize the electron, which would make sense, but I have not seen 'principal energy' explained as the ionization energy of an electron anywhere else.










      share|improve this question









      New contributor




      chompion is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.







      $endgroup$




      Several places state the 'principal energy of an electron' can be calculated as such:



      $$E = frac2π^2mZ^2e^4n^2h^2$$



      Another equation I found was:



      $$E = -fracE_0n^2,$$



      where $$E_0 = pu13.6 eV~(pu1 eV = pu1.602e-19 J)$$



      As seen in these equations, the greater the principal number ($n$) of the electron, the lower the principal energy $E$ of this electron.



      However, the principal number $n$ is associated with higher energy states. The farther from the electron, the higher the energy state of this electron.



      I seem to be fumbling the concept of 'principal energy of an electron.' What is the difference between the 'energy state' associated with the principal number, and the 'principal energy' of an electron? What exactly do the 'principal energy' equations mean? I read somewhere that it would be the energy it would take to "unbind" or ionize the electron, which would make sense, but I have not seen 'principal energy' explained as the ionization energy of an electron anywhere else.







      energy electrons






      share|improve this question









      New contributor




      chompion is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.











      share|improve this question









      New contributor




      chompion is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.









      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question








      edited 6 hours ago









      andselisk

      18k656119




      18k656119






      New contributor




      chompion is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.









      asked 7 hours ago









      chompionchompion

      314




      314




      New contributor




      chompion is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.





      New contributor





      chompion is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.






      chompion is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.




















          1 Answer
          1






          active

          oldest

          votes


















          6












          $begingroup$

          Notice that when $n=1$, we have,
          $$
          E=-E_0=-13.6~mathrmeV
          $$

          which is the energy required to remove an electron from the ground state of a hydrogen atom.



          If we increase $n$ to say $n=2$, then we have,



          $$
          E=-E_0/4=-3.4~mathrmeV
          $$

          which is a larger number than for $n=1$. Don't let the minus sign confuse you.



          This is a very common source of confusion when these equations are seen for the first time. The confusion often stems from the fact that we are free to choose the zero of energy wherever we would like. So, in this case, zero energy corresponds to the case where the electron and nucleus are infinitely separated which is the $nrightarrowinfty$ limit. So, more negative numbers correspond to lower energies and more tightly bound electrons.






          share|improve this answer









          $endgroup$












          • $begingroup$
            My first exposure to this equation was the first, and read the relation between energy and quantum number was inverse. I don't quite see where the minus would come in the 1st equation, but do see it in others. Thank you
            $endgroup$
            – chompion
            6 hours ago










          • $begingroup$
            @jheindel your current formulation implies that you need negative amount of energy (i.e. $-E_0$) to ionize a hydrogen atom.
            $endgroup$
            – Ruslan
            2 hours ago










          • $begingroup$
            There's a similar thing for gravitational potential energy. If we set the GPE at infinity to zero, then the GPE for finite $r$ is proportional to $frac -1 r$
            $endgroup$
            – Acccumulation
            1 hour ago










          Your Answer





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          1 Answer
          1






          active

          oldest

          votes








          1 Answer
          1






          active

          oldest

          votes









          active

          oldest

          votes






          active

          oldest

          votes









          6












          $begingroup$

          Notice that when $n=1$, we have,
          $$
          E=-E_0=-13.6~mathrmeV
          $$

          which is the energy required to remove an electron from the ground state of a hydrogen atom.



          If we increase $n$ to say $n=2$, then we have,



          $$
          E=-E_0/4=-3.4~mathrmeV
          $$

          which is a larger number than for $n=1$. Don't let the minus sign confuse you.



          This is a very common source of confusion when these equations are seen for the first time. The confusion often stems from the fact that we are free to choose the zero of energy wherever we would like. So, in this case, zero energy corresponds to the case where the electron and nucleus are infinitely separated which is the $nrightarrowinfty$ limit. So, more negative numbers correspond to lower energies and more tightly bound electrons.






          share|improve this answer









          $endgroup$












          • $begingroup$
            My first exposure to this equation was the first, and read the relation between energy and quantum number was inverse. I don't quite see where the minus would come in the 1st equation, but do see it in others. Thank you
            $endgroup$
            – chompion
            6 hours ago










          • $begingroup$
            @jheindel your current formulation implies that you need negative amount of energy (i.e. $-E_0$) to ionize a hydrogen atom.
            $endgroup$
            – Ruslan
            2 hours ago










          • $begingroup$
            There's a similar thing for gravitational potential energy. If we set the GPE at infinity to zero, then the GPE for finite $r$ is proportional to $frac -1 r$
            $endgroup$
            – Acccumulation
            1 hour ago















          6












          $begingroup$

          Notice that when $n=1$, we have,
          $$
          E=-E_0=-13.6~mathrmeV
          $$

          which is the energy required to remove an electron from the ground state of a hydrogen atom.



          If we increase $n$ to say $n=2$, then we have,



          $$
          E=-E_0/4=-3.4~mathrmeV
          $$

          which is a larger number than for $n=1$. Don't let the minus sign confuse you.



          This is a very common source of confusion when these equations are seen for the first time. The confusion often stems from the fact that we are free to choose the zero of energy wherever we would like. So, in this case, zero energy corresponds to the case where the electron and nucleus are infinitely separated which is the $nrightarrowinfty$ limit. So, more negative numbers correspond to lower energies and more tightly bound electrons.






          share|improve this answer









          $endgroup$












          • $begingroup$
            My first exposure to this equation was the first, and read the relation between energy and quantum number was inverse. I don't quite see where the minus would come in the 1st equation, but do see it in others. Thank you
            $endgroup$
            – chompion
            6 hours ago










          • $begingroup$
            @jheindel your current formulation implies that you need negative amount of energy (i.e. $-E_0$) to ionize a hydrogen atom.
            $endgroup$
            – Ruslan
            2 hours ago










          • $begingroup$
            There's a similar thing for gravitational potential energy. If we set the GPE at infinity to zero, then the GPE for finite $r$ is proportional to $frac -1 r$
            $endgroup$
            – Acccumulation
            1 hour ago













          6












          6








          6





          $begingroup$

          Notice that when $n=1$, we have,
          $$
          E=-E_0=-13.6~mathrmeV
          $$

          which is the energy required to remove an electron from the ground state of a hydrogen atom.



          If we increase $n$ to say $n=2$, then we have,



          $$
          E=-E_0/4=-3.4~mathrmeV
          $$

          which is a larger number than for $n=1$. Don't let the minus sign confuse you.



          This is a very common source of confusion when these equations are seen for the first time. The confusion often stems from the fact that we are free to choose the zero of energy wherever we would like. So, in this case, zero energy corresponds to the case where the electron and nucleus are infinitely separated which is the $nrightarrowinfty$ limit. So, more negative numbers correspond to lower energies and more tightly bound electrons.






          share|improve this answer









          $endgroup$



          Notice that when $n=1$, we have,
          $$
          E=-E_0=-13.6~mathrmeV
          $$

          which is the energy required to remove an electron from the ground state of a hydrogen atom.



          If we increase $n$ to say $n=2$, then we have,



          $$
          E=-E_0/4=-3.4~mathrmeV
          $$

          which is a larger number than for $n=1$. Don't let the minus sign confuse you.



          This is a very common source of confusion when these equations are seen for the first time. The confusion often stems from the fact that we are free to choose the zero of energy wherever we would like. So, in this case, zero energy corresponds to the case where the electron and nucleus are infinitely separated which is the $nrightarrowinfty$ limit. So, more negative numbers correspond to lower energies and more tightly bound electrons.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered 6 hours ago









          jheindeljheindel

          8,1442453




          8,1442453











          • $begingroup$
            My first exposure to this equation was the first, and read the relation between energy and quantum number was inverse. I don't quite see where the minus would come in the 1st equation, but do see it in others. Thank you
            $endgroup$
            – chompion
            6 hours ago










          • $begingroup$
            @jheindel your current formulation implies that you need negative amount of energy (i.e. $-E_0$) to ionize a hydrogen atom.
            $endgroup$
            – Ruslan
            2 hours ago










          • $begingroup$
            There's a similar thing for gravitational potential energy. If we set the GPE at infinity to zero, then the GPE for finite $r$ is proportional to $frac -1 r$
            $endgroup$
            – Acccumulation
            1 hour ago
















          • $begingroup$
            My first exposure to this equation was the first, and read the relation between energy and quantum number was inverse. I don't quite see where the minus would come in the 1st equation, but do see it in others. Thank you
            $endgroup$
            – chompion
            6 hours ago










          • $begingroup$
            @jheindel your current formulation implies that you need negative amount of energy (i.e. $-E_0$) to ionize a hydrogen atom.
            $endgroup$
            – Ruslan
            2 hours ago










          • $begingroup$
            There's a similar thing for gravitational potential energy. If we set the GPE at infinity to zero, then the GPE for finite $r$ is proportional to $frac -1 r$
            $endgroup$
            – Acccumulation
            1 hour ago















          $begingroup$
          My first exposure to this equation was the first, and read the relation between energy and quantum number was inverse. I don't quite see where the minus would come in the 1st equation, but do see it in others. Thank you
          $endgroup$
          – chompion
          6 hours ago




          $begingroup$
          My first exposure to this equation was the first, and read the relation between energy and quantum number was inverse. I don't quite see where the minus would come in the 1st equation, but do see it in others. Thank you
          $endgroup$
          – chompion
          6 hours ago












          $begingroup$
          @jheindel your current formulation implies that you need negative amount of energy (i.e. $-E_0$) to ionize a hydrogen atom.
          $endgroup$
          – Ruslan
          2 hours ago




          $begingroup$
          @jheindel your current formulation implies that you need negative amount of energy (i.e. $-E_0$) to ionize a hydrogen atom.
          $endgroup$
          – Ruslan
          2 hours ago












          $begingroup$
          There's a similar thing for gravitational potential energy. If we set the GPE at infinity to zero, then the GPE for finite $r$ is proportional to $frac -1 r$
          $endgroup$
          – Acccumulation
          1 hour ago




          $begingroup$
          There's a similar thing for gravitational potential energy. If we set the GPE at infinity to zero, then the GPE for finite $r$ is proportional to $frac -1 r$
          $endgroup$
          – Acccumulation
          1 hour ago










          chompion is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.









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