Question

Whenever a hydrogen atom emits a photon in the Balmer series,

• A. It may emit another photon in the Brackett series.
• B. It may emit another photon in the Lyman series
• C. It need not emit any one more photon
• D. It may emit another photon in the Paschen series

Answer 1

The correct option is B It may emit another photon in the Lyman series

A photon is emitted when de-excitation of electron take place.

So, based on the final state of transition, hydrogen spectrum is classified into Lyman, Balmer, Paschen, Brackett and Pfund series.

Lyman series corresponds to transition from higher energy state $(n_i=2,3,4,...\infty )$ to ground state $(n_f=1)$.

Balmer series corresponds to transition from higher energy state $(n_i=3,4,...\infty )$ to first excited state $(n_f=2)$.

So, whenever a hydrogen atom emits a photon in the Balmer series $(n_f=2)$, there is always a possibility that the electron can make a transition from $n=2\text{to}n=1$.

Therefore, It may emit another photon in the Lyman series.

Hence, $\left(C\right)$ is the correct answer.