Excited Electrons

Front

What is an excited electron?

Back

An excited electron is an electron that has absorbed energy and moved to a higher energy level, further from the nucleus.

Front

What happens when an electron drops from a higher to a lower energy level?

Back

When an electron drops from a higher to a lower energy level, it emits energy in the form of light.

Front

What is an emission spectrum?

Back

An emission spectrum is a spectrum of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by a source, showing the wavelengths of light emitted by excited electrons returning to lower energy states.

Front

What is an absorption spectrum?

Back

An absorption spectrum is a spectrum that shows the wavelengths of light absorbed by electrons in an atom as they move from a lower to a higher energy state.

Front

How do flame tests work in identifying elements?

Back

Flame tests work by heating elements in a flame, causing their electrons to become excited and emit characteristic colors of light.

Front

What is the ground state of an electron?

Back

The ground state of an electron is the lowest energy state of an electron in an atom, where it is closest to the nucleus.

Front

What is the relationship between energy levels and electron stability?

Back

Electrons in higher energy levels are less stable and more likely to be involved in chemical reactions compared to those in lower energy levels.

Front

What is the significance of the quantum leap in electron behavior?

Back

The quantum leap refers to the sudden transition of an electron between energy levels, which results in the emission or absorption of energy.

Front

What is the role of protons in the emission of light from an atom?

Back

Protons do not emit light; it is the electrons that gain or lose energy and transition between energy levels that result in light emission.

Front

What is the excited state of an electron?

Back

The excited state of an electron is when it has absorbed energy and moved to a higher energy level, making it unstable.