Question

A photon was absorbed by a hydrogen atom and an electron was promoted to the $5^{th}$ shell. When the excited electron returned to ground state, a visible photon and another quanta were emitted. Which transition is responsible for the emission of the other quanta?

• A. $5\to 2$
• B. $3\to 1$
• C. $2\to 1$
• D. $4\to 1$

Answer 1

The correct option is C $2\to 1$

When an electron jumps from a higher energy level to the second energy level, the lines obtained are called Balmer series and the wavelength of these lines fall in visible region. This would be the transition $5\to 2$, so the other transition must be $2\to 1$ to get the electron to the ground state.