fiziks

Institute for NET/JRF, GATE, IIT‐JAM, M.Sc. Entrance, JEST, TIFR and GRE in Physics 
 
(b) Spectrum of Atomic Hydrogen
It has been discovered that when atoms exposed to white light can absorb light at
certain discrete frequencies known as absorption lines or when atoms are excited by the
passage of an electric current or by some another means produces discrete frequencies of
light known as emission line. The spectrum of light absorbed or emitted by an element is
carrying the signature of that element, e.g. Sodium burning in flame, produces two
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distinct yellow light of wavelength 5896 A and 5890 A which is observed after being
dispersed by a suitable spectrometer. Each of the wavelength components is called a
spectral line and whole family of lines is called a line spectrum. No two different
elements can produce similar spectrum. The fact that each element produces its own
characteristic spectrum, is of great importance as this information can be used for the
chemical or element analysis, for example the elements present in Sun are analysed by
this means. J. Balmer (1885) and J. Rydberg (1888) found that the spectral lines in
hydrogen atom obey the following mathematical formula

1  1 1 
  R 2  2 
  n f ni 
 
Where v is the frequency of either an emission or absorption line, ni and n f are positive

integer with ni  n f and R is a constant, known as Rydberg’s constant.

n2
Balmer Series

n 1
Lyman Series

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 fiziks
Institute for NET/JRF, GATE, IIT‐JAM, M.Sc. Entrance, JEST, TIFR and GRE in Physics 
 
In atomic hydrogen, different line series are observed which are described below:
(i) Lyman Series: The series with n f  1 is known as the Lyman series and lies in the

ultraviolet part of the spectrum.

1 1 1 
 R 2  2  ni  2,3, 4...
  1 ni 
The lines are labeled as L , L , L ……… in order of decreasing wavelengths.
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L line: n f  1 and ni  2;   1216 A
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L line: n f  1 and ni  3;   1026 A
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L line: n f  1 and ni  4;   973A
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While the Lyman series limit ( ni   ) is   912 A .

(ii) Balmer Series: Balmer series ( n f  2 ) was first to be discovered and it lies in the

visible part of electromagnetic spectrum.

1  1 1 
 R 2  2  ni  3, 4,5...
  2 ni 
The lines are labeled as H , H  , H  ……… in order of decreasing wavelengths.
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H line: n f  2 and ni  3;   6563A
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H  line: n f  2 and ni  4;   4861A
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H  line: n f  2 and ni  5;   4340 A
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While the Balmer series limit ( ni   ) is   3646 A . The H is an important line used
in the detection of hydrogen presence.
(iii) Paschen Series: Paschen series was observed by Friedrich Paschen in 1908
corresponds to the transition between the states with ( n f  3 ) and successive higher

states and lies in the near Infrared region of the spectrum.

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 fiziks
Institute for NET/JRF, GATE, IIT‐JAM, M.Sc. Entrance, JEST, TIFR and GRE in Physics 
 
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The Paschen series starts with a line at 18751A and ends at 8204 A (wavelength of
Paschen series limit).
(iv) Brackett Series: In the Brackett series electron transition takes place from any
higher principle quantum state to n f  4 and it is obtained in the far infrared region.

1  1 1 
 R 2  2  n  5, 6, 7.........
  4 ni 
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The Brackett series start at 40500 A whereas the series limit lies at 14580 A . The shortest
or high frequency lines of Brackett series overlap with the Paschen series lines.
(v) Pfund Series: This series was discovered by A.H. Pfund in 1924 which corresponds
to transition between the states with ( n f  5 ) and successive higher states and lies in

Infrared region of the spectrum.

1 1 1 
 R 2  2  ni  6, 7,8.....
  5 ni 
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The Pfund series start at 74600 A whereas the series limit lies at 22790 A .
(vi) Humphreys Series: The sixth series in the spectrum of hydrogen atom was
observed by C.J. Humphreys in 1953 and lies in the infrared region of the spectrum. This
series originates in transition to the sixth orbit from those of greater quantum numbers.

1  1 1 
 R 2  2  ni  7,8,9.....
  6 ni 
The series with higher orders is unnamed but it follows the same rule given by J. Rydberg
formula.

H.No. 40-D, Ground Floor, Jia Sarai, Near IIT, Hauz Khas, New Delhi-110016
Phone: 011-26865455/+91-9871145498
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