Question

Is the ground state of an atom always n = 1?

Answer 1

Yeah, cause if n=0 then the energy would be zero which doesn't make sense, the atom has to have some amount of energy.

Answer 2

Makes sense. I was wondering if the energy state can be n = 2 or greater.

Answer 3

Yeah definitely, that's what gives you the discrete lines in the structure of hydrogen's spectra, each one corresponds to a distinct transition from one value of n for energy to another:

http://www2.ifa.hawaii.edu/newsletters/images/37spectra.jpg

http://cdn1.askiitians.com/Images/201479-164336213-4438-hydrogen.gif