What is the energy of a hydrogen atom in the first exc ited state if the potential energy is taken to be zero in the ground state ?
The potential energy of a hydrogen atom is zero in ground state.
An electron is board to the nucleus with energy 13.6 eV. Then we have to give 13.6 eV energy to cancel that energy.
Additional energy = 10.2 eV.
∴ Total enertgy of an atom in the first exciation state = 13.6 eV + 10.2 eV
= 23.8 eV