Question

An electron moves away from the nucleus, its potential energy:

• A. increases
• B. decreases
• C. remains constant
• D. none of these

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

increases

An electron moves away from the nucleus, its potential energy increases. The potential energy of the electron is minimum at equilibrium distance from the nucleus. As this distance increases / decreases, its potential energy increases.
Thus, when electron is excited a higher energy orbital it gets farther away from the atom. The further the orbital is from the nucleus, the higher the potential energy of an electron at that energy level.