JEE Main 2023 — Structure Of Atom Question with Solution

The energy levels of a hydrogen-like atom (such as Li²⁺ in this case) can be calculated using the formula:

$$E=-R_H\cdot \frac{Z^2}{n^2}$$

where:

• $E$ is the energy of the electron,
• $R_H$ is the Rydberg constant (in joules),
• $Z$ is the atomic number, and
• $n$ is the principal quantum number.

The change in energy (∆E) between two energy levels is given by the difference in the energies of the two levels. In this case, the electron is excited from the nth level to the (n+1)th level, and the energy of the radiation is given as $1.47\times 10^{-17}$ J. Therefore:

$$\Delta E=E_{n+1}-E_n=1.47\times 10^{-17}\mathrm{J}$$

Substituting the formula for $E_n$ and $E_{n+1}$:

$$\Delta E=-R_H\cdot \frac{Z^2}{(n+1{)}^2}-\left(-R_H\cdot \frac{Z^2}{n^2}\right)$$

Simplifying this, we get:

$$\Delta E=R_H\cdot Z^2\left(\frac{1}{n^2}-\frac{1}{(n+1{)}^2}\right)$$

We know that $Z=3$ for ${\mathrm{Li}}^{2+}$, $R_H=2.18\times 10^{-18}\mathrm{J}$ and $\Delta E=1.47\times 10^{-17}\mathrm{J}$.

We substitute the given values into the formula

$$1.47\times 10^{-17}\mathrm{J}=2.18\times 10^{-18}\mathrm{J}\times 3^2\left(\frac{1}{n^2}-\frac{1}{(n+1{)}^2}\right)$$

Simplify to

$$\frac{1.47}{1.96}=\frac{1}{n^2}-\frac{1}{(n+1{)}^2}$$

Solving this quadratic equation for n, we get two possible solutions. However, we disregard the negative solution since n (the principal quantum number) can't be negative. So, the only valid solution is n=1.

Thus, the value of n is 1.