The total energy of an electron in the first excited state of the hydrogen atom is about –3.4 eV. (a) What is the kinetic energy of the electron in this state? (b) What is the potential energy of the electron in this state? (c) Which of the answers above would change if the choice of the zero of potential energy is changed?
Kinetic energy of electron is, KE=n213.6Z2eV For the first excited state of the hydrogen atom, n=2 and Z=1 ∴KE=2213.6=3.4eV Total energy , E=KE+PE⇒−3.4=3.4+PE ∴PE=−6.8 eV
