Practice question
Question
In a hydrogen atom, the total energy of an electron in the \( n = 3 \) state is -1.51 eV. What is its
potential energy?
Explanation
**Energy in hydrogen** total E_n = -13.6/n² eV, kinetic K = +13.6/n² eV, potential U = -27.2/n² eV, ratio K/U = -1/2, total negative indicates bound, zero at ionization, negative total means electron bound, requires energy to free. For n=4 E=-0.85 eV, U=-1.7 eV, K=0.85 eV, potential energy twice total negative. E = K + U , K = -E = 1.51 eV . U = -2K = -2 × 1.51 = -3.02 eV . Using E_n = -13.6/n² eV, r_n = n² a₀, L = n h/2π, R = R₀ A^¹/³, BE = Δm c² and 1 u = 931.5 MeV, evaluation yields -3.02
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