Consider a hydrogen atom in the ground state. What is the energy of its electron?
Then consider it in its excited state. What is the energy of the electron in the n=3 level?
Please explain to me how to do this if you know the answer...not just give me the answer. Thanks!!

Question

Consider a hydrogen atom in the ground state. What is the energy of its electron?
Then consider it in its excited state. What is the energy of the electron in the n=3 level? 
Please explain to me how to do this if you know the answer...not just give me the answer. Thanks!!

abb0t · Answer

Are you allowed to use molecular orbital to explain?

anonymous · Answer

I'm really not sure? .... it's homework online and it's asking for Joules as the answer?

anonymous · Answer

I think I got how to do it.$$E=-hcR \frac{ 1 }{ nf^2 } - \frac{ 1 }{n i^2 }$$ but I'm not sure where to get nf or ni from?? ... & I'm really not sure what "ground zero" is... my husband was in the hospital and I missed class all last week and am lost on this stuff

anonymous · Answer

Oh! I got the answer. Thanks anyway @abb0t