Question

Which series has the highest energy in the hydrogen spectrum?

• A. Balmer
• B. Brackett
• C. pfund
• D. lyman

Answer 1

The correct option is D

lyman

The explanation for the correct option:

Option D Lyman

• Electron energy changes with $1/{\mathrm{n}}^2$, $\mathrm{n}$=refers to the primary quantum number.
• The principal quantum number ($\mathrm{n}$) for the Lyman series is 1. So, in the hydrogen spectrum, the Lyman series has the maximum energy.

The explanation for the incorrect options:

Option A Balmer

• Balmer is a second series after Lyman, thus it has less energy than the Lyman series.

Option B Bracket

• In the Bracket series energy gap is less than in the first three series (Lyman, Balmer, Paschen).

Option C pfund

• In this series, the energy gap between the transition levels is less than in Balmer, Lyman, Bracket, and Paschen.

Thus Option D Lyman is the correct option .