Question

When the atomic electron is at infinite distance from the nucleus, its energy is:

• A. Infinity
• B. zero
• C. negative
• D. positive

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

zero

Energy is represented by the formula, $E_n=E_1\times \frac{Z^2}{n^2}$ for hydrogen-like species.
$E_1$ is the energy for the hydrogen first orbit and has a negative value.
As the $n$ increases, energy increases i.e., it becomes less negative. When $n=\infty$, the electron can have a maximum energy value of zero.