Question

Consider the energy level diagram for a particular atom as shown in the figure. An electron is present in the ground state level and 5eV is the highest energy level present in the atom. If a photon of energy 6eV is given to the atom.Identify which of the following will occur?

• A. The electron will ignore the photon since the photon's energy does not match the energy levels.
• B. The electron will absorb the photon, jump up to the 5 eV level shown, and convert the remainder of the photon's energy into kinetic energy, but will stay in the 5 eV energy level
• C. The electron will absorb the photon, jump out of the atom completely, and convert the remainder of the photon's energy into kinetic energy.
• D. The electron will absorb the photon, jump up to the 5 eV level, then go back down to the 4 eV level
• E. The electron will jump up to the 3 eV level, then immediately go back down the ground state.

Answer 1

The correct option is C The electron will absorb the photon, jump out of the atom completely, and convert the remainder of the photon's energy into kinetic energy.

On absorption of energy of the photon, the electron would try to jump to the maximum energy state possible. Since reaching the maximum energy level possible requires $5eV$ of energy and the input energy is greater than it by $1eV$, the electron would completely jump out of the atom, with kinetic energy equal to $1eV$.