Practice question
Question
What is the total energy of an electron in the \( n = 5 \) state of a hydrogen atom? (Use \( E_n =
-\frac{13.6}{n^2} \, \text{eV} \))
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. E₅ = -(13.6/5²) = -(13.6/25) = -0.544 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 -0.544 eV, consistent with Bohr model and nuclear binding energy systematics.
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