Question

What is the initial state ${\mathrm{n}}_1$ for the Balmer series?

Answer 1

The initial state ${\mathrm{n}}_1$for the Balmer series.

1. The Balmer series refers to a set of spectral emission lines of the hydrogen atom caused via electron transitions between higher energy levels to the energy level having the main quantum number $2$.
2. Balmer determined that its lightest atom, hydrogen, was most likely to exhibit simple spectrum patterns.
3. The wavelengths of the four visible spectral lines were measured by Angstrom to be$656.21,486.07,434.01,$ and $410.12$ nm.

${\mathrm{R}}_{\mathrm{H}}\left(\frac{1}{4}–{\left(\frac{1}{{\mathrm{n}}_2}\right)}^2\right)$

Hence, in the Balmer series, the initial state $n_1$is $2$, and $n_2$ $=3,4,\dots$