CHAPTER 28—Atomic Physics

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. When a wire carries high current causing it to glow, it will emit which type of spectrum?
a. line emission
b. line absorption
c. continuous
d. monochromatic
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 1
TOP: 28.1 Early Models of the Atom | 28.2 Atomic Spectra

2. When a high voltage is applied to a low-pressure gas causing it to glow, it will emit which type of
spectrum?
a. line emission
b. line absorption
c. continuous
d. monochromatic
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: 1
TOP: 28.1 Early Models of the Atom | 28.2 Atomic Spectra

3. When a cool gas is placed between a glowing wire filament source and a diffraction grating, the
resultant spectrum from the grating is which one of the following?
a. line emission
b. line absorption
c. continuous
d. monochromatic
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: 1
TOP: 28.1 Early Models of the Atom | 28.2 Atomic Spectra

4. What is the wavelength of the line in the Balmer series of hydrogen that is comprised of transitions
from the n = 4 to the n = 2 level? (R = 1.097 ´ 107 m-1 and 1 nm = 10-9 m)
a. 380 nm
b. 486 nm
c. 523 nm
d. 630 nm
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: 2
TOP: 28.1 Early Models of the Atom | 28.2 Atomic Spectra

5. An alpha particle is:

a. a neutral helium atom.
b. any positively charged nucleus.
c. an x-ray.
d. None of the above.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: 1
TOP: 28.1 Early Models of the Atom | 28.2 Atomic Spectra

6. According to the Rutherford model of the atom, most of the volume of an atom:
a. is empty space.
 b. was occupied by the nucleus.
c. contained positive charges.
d. excluded electrons.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: 1
TOP: 28.1 Early Models of the Atom | 28.2 Atomic Spectra

7. In contrast to Thomson’s model of the atom, Rutherford’s model:

a. had the positive charge spread uniformly through the atom.
b. had the positive charge concentrated in a small region.
c. was first to explain atoms emitting discrete frequencies.
d. eliminated radiation from accelerating charges.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: 1
TOP: 28.1 Early Models of the Atom | 28.2 Atomic Spectra

8. The Lyman series of hydrogen is made up of those transitions made from higher levels to n = 1. If the
first line in this series has a wavelength of 122 nm, what is the wavelength of the second line?
a. 49 nm
b. 103 nm
c. 364 nm
d. 486 nm
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: 2 TOP: 28.3 The Bohr Model

9. The ionization energy for the hydrogen atom is 13.6 eV. What is the energy of a photon that is emitted
as a hydrogen atom makes a transition between the n = 4 and n = 2 states?
a. 0.85 eV
b. 2.55 eV
c. 3.40 eV
d. 6.80 eV
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: 2 TOP: 28.3 The Bohr Model

10. Of the various wavelengths emitted from a hydrogen gas discharge tube, those that are associated with
transitions from higher levels down to the n = 1 level produce which of the following?
a. infrared
b. visible
c. mixture of infrared and visible
d. ultraviolet
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: 2 TOP: 28.3 The Bohr Model

11. Of the various wavelengths emitted from a hydrogen gas discharge tube, those associated with
transitions from higher levels down to the n = 2 level produce which of the following?
a. infrared
b. visible
c. mixture of visible and ultraviolet
d. ultraviolet
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 2 TOP: 28.3 The Bohr Model

12. What is the wavelength of the line in the Paschen series of hydrogen that is comprised of transitions
from the n = 4 to the n = 3 levels? (R = 1.097 ´ 107 m-1 and 1 nm = 10-9 m)
a. 1 282 nm
b. 1 875 nm
 c. 1 923 nm
d. 2 251 nm
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: 2 TOP: 28.3 The Bohr Model

13. The ionization energy of the hydrogen atom is 13.6 eV. What is the energy of the n = 5 state?
a. 2.72 eV
b. –2.72 eV
c. 0.544 eV
d. –0.544 eV
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: 2 TOP: 28.3 The Bohr Model

14. The ionization energy of the hydrogen atom is 13.6 eV. What is the energy of a photon emitted
corresponding to a transition from the n = 5 to n = 2 state?
a. 2.9 eV
b. 3.5 eV
c. 4.0 eV
d. 7.9 eV
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: 2 TOP: 28.3 The Bohr Model

15. If the radius of the electron orbit in the n = 1 level of the hydrogen atoms is 0.052 9 nm, what is its
radius for the n = 5 level? (Assume the Bohr model is valid).
a. 0.106 nm
b. 0.265 nm
c. 0.846 nm
d. 1.32 nm
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: 2 TOP: 28.3 The Bohr Model

16. The Paschen series of hydrogen corresponds to electron transitions from higher levels to n = 3. What is
the shortest wavelength in that series? (R = 1.097 ´ 107 m-1 and 1 nm = 10-9 m)
a. 365 nm
b. 820 nm
c. 1 094 nm
d. 313 nm
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: 3 TOP: 28.3 The Bohr Model

17. The Lyman series of hydrogen corresponds to electron transitions from higher levels to n = 1. What is
the longest wavelength in that series? (R = 1.097 ´ 107 m-1 and 1 nm = 10-9 m)
a. 91.4 nm
b. 122 nm
c. 273 nm
d. 456 nm
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: 2 TOP: 28.3 The Bohr Model

18. The ionization energy of the hydrogen atom is 13.6 eV. What is the wavelength of a photon having
this much energy? (h = 6.63 ´ 10-34 J×s, c = 3.00 ´ 108 m/s, 1 eV = 1.6 ´ 10-19 J, and 1 nm = 10-9 m)
a. 91.4 nm
b. 136 nm
c. 273 nm
d. 360 nm
 ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: 2 TOP: 28.3 The Bohr Model

19. The four visible colors emitted by hydrogen atoms are produced by electrons:
a. that start in the ground state.
b. that end up in the ground state.
c. that start in the level with n = 2.
d. that end up in the level with n = 2.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: 2 TOP: 28.3 The Bohr Model

20. The visible lines from hydrogen are all members of the:
a. Lyman series.
b. Balmer series.
c. Paschen series.
d. Brackett series.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: 2 TOP: 28.3 The Bohr Model

21. The emission of a line from the Balmer series is followed almost immediately by the emission of a line
from the Lyman series. This will be true for:
a. only the first line of the Balmer series and the first line of the Lyman series.
b. all the lines of the Balmer series followed by only the first line of the Lyman series.
c. only the first line of the Balmer series followed by any of the lines of the Lyman series.
d. all the lines of the Balmer series followed by any of the lines of the Lyman series.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: 2 TOP: 28.3 The Bohr Model

22. The Bohr theory does not predict that:

a. hydrogen atoms will give off the lines from the Balmer series.
b. the ground state of hydrogen is spherically symmetric.
c. it requires 13.6 eV to ionize hydrogen.
d. the approximate radius of a hydrogen atom is 5.3 ´ 10-11 m.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: 2 TOP: 28.3 The Bohr Model

23. In the Bohr model of the atom, the orbits where electrons move fastest:
a. have the lowest energy.
b. have the highest energy.
c. have the biggest radius.
d. have the greatest angular momentum.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: 2 TOP: 28.3 The Bohr Model

24. In the hydrogen atom the potential energy is negative, but the absolute value of the potential energy:
a. is equal to the kinetic energy of the electron.
b. is twice the kinetic energy of the electron.
c. is half the kinetic energy of the electron.
d. is equal to n2 times the kinetic energy of the electron.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: 2 TOP: 28.3 The Bohr Model

25. When an electron moves from the n = 1 to the n = 2 orbit:

a. both the radius and the angular momentum double.
b. both the radius and the angular momentum increase by a factor of 4.
c. the radius doubles and the angular momentum increases by a factor of 4.
d. the radius increases by a factor of 4, and the angular momentum doubles.
 ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: 2 TOP: 28.3 The Bohr Model

26. A muon behaves like an electron except that it has 207 times the mass of the electron. If a muon were
bound to a proton, how would the energy levels in the Bohr model compare to those for a bound
electron?
a. They would be the same.
b. They would be (207)2 times as much as those for the electron.
c. They would be 207 times as much as those for the electron.
d. They would be (1/207) times as much as those for the electron.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 2 TOP: 28.3 The Bohr Model

27. A hydrogen atom in the ground state absorbs a 12.75-eV photon. To what level is the electron
promoted? (The ionization energy of hydrogen is 13.6-eV).
a. n = 2
b. n = 3
c. n = 4
d. n = 5
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 2 TOP: 28.3 The Bohr Model

28. A photon is emitted from a hydrogen atom that undergoes a transition from n = 3 to n = 2. Calculate
the energy and wavelength of the photon. (The ionization energy of hydrogen is 13.6 eV, and h = 6.63
´ 10-34 J×s, c = 3.00 ´ 108 m/s, 1 eV = 1.60 ´ 10-19 J, and 1 nm = 10-9 m)
a. 1.89 eV, 658 nm
b. 2.21 eV, 563 nm
c. 1.89 eV, 460 nm
d. 3.19 eV, 658 nm
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: 2 TOP: 28.3 The Bohr Model

29. The speed of the electron in the Bohr theory of hydrogen is:
a. proportional to n.
b. proportional to n2.
c. inversely proportional to n.
d. inversely proportional to n2.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 2 TOP: 28.3 The Bohr Model

30. Which of the following transitions in hydrogen from an initial state (ni) to a final state (nf) results in the
most energy emitted?
a. ni = 80, nf = 2
b. ni = 3, nf = 95
c. ni = 2, nf = 1
d. ni = 1, nf = 3
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 3 TOP: 28.3 The Bohr Model

31. The Bohr model of the hydrogen atom accounts for which quantum number?
a. principal
b. orbital
c. orbital magnetic
d. All of the above.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: 1 TOP: 28.3 The Bohr Model
32. Using quantum theories to study the hydrogen atom allows the prediction and experimental
verification of many data about atoms such as He+ and Li2+. Some quantities that can successfully be
predicted about He+ and Li2+ in this manner are:
a. the color of the light they will emit.
b. their mass.
c. their abundance in nature.
d. All of the above.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: 1 TOP: 28.3 The Bohr Model

33. In an analysis relating Bohr’s theory to the de Broglie wavelength of electrons, when an electron
moves from the n = 1 level to the n = 2 level, the circumference for its orbit becomes 4 times greater.
This occurs because:
a. there are four times as many wavelengths in the new orbit.
b. the wavelength of the electron becomes four times as long.
c. there are twice as many wavelengths, and each wavelength is twice as long.
d. the electron is moving four times as fast.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 2 TOP: 28.3 The Bohr Model

34. What is the energy needed to change an He+ ion into an He++ ion? (The ionization energy of hydrogen
is 13.6 eV).
a. 13.6 eV
b. 54.4 eV
c. 92.9 eV
d. 112.4 eV
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: 2 TOP: 28.3 The Bohr Model

35. An energy of 122 eV is needed to remove an electron from the n = 1 state of a lithium atom. If a
single photon accomplishes this task, what wavelength is needed? (h = 6.63 ´ 10 J×s, c = 3.00 ´ 108
-34

m/s, 1 eV = 1.6 ´ 10-19 J, and 1 nm = 10-9 m)

a. 13.2 nm
b. 12.2 nm
c. 11.2 nm
d. 10.2 nm
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: 2 TOP: 28.3 The Bohr Model

36. The quantum mechanical model of the hydrogen atom requires that if the principal quantum number is
4, there will be how many different permitted orbital quantum number(s)?
a. one
b. two
c. four
d. five
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 2
TOP: 28.4 Quantum Mechanics and the Hydrogen Atom

37. The quantum mechanical model of the hydrogen atom requires that if the orbital quantum number of
the hydrogen atom is 4, there will be how many permitted orbital magnetic quantum numbers?
a. three
b. four
c. seven
 d. nine
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: 2
TOP: 28.4 Quantum Mechanics and the Hydrogen Atom

38. The quantum mechanical model of the hydrogen atom requires that if the orbital magnetic quantum
number is 3, there will be how many permitted spin magnetic quantum numbers?
a. two
b. three
c. four
d. seven
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: 2
TOP: 28.4 Quantum Mechanics and the Hydrogen Atom

39. How many possible substates are available in a hydrogen atom where the principal quantum number is
3?
a. 6
b. 9
c. 18
d. 36
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 3
TOP: 28.4 Quantum Mechanics and the Hydrogen Atom

40. The quantum mechanical model of the hydrogen atom requires that if the principal quantum number =
5, there will be how many permitted orbital quantum numbers?
a. 3
b. 5
c. 10
d. 25
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: 2
TOP: 28.4 Quantum Mechanics and the Hydrogen Atom

41. The quantum mechanical model of the hydrogen atom requires that if the orbital quantum number = 7,
there will be how many permitted orbital magnetic quantum numbers allowed?
a. 6
b. 7
c. 11
d. 15
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: 2
TOP: 28.4 Quantum Mechanics and the Hydrogen Atom

42. The quantum mechanical model of the hydrogen atom requires that if the principal quantum number =
4, there will be permitted how many orbital magnetic quantum numbers?
a. 4
b. 6
c. 8
d. 7
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: 3
TOP: 28.4 Quantum Mechanics and the Hydrogen Atom
43. The quantum mechanical model of the hydrogen atom requires that if the orbital quantum number = 5,
there are permitted how many possible substates?
a. 8
b. 18
c. 22
d. 32
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 3
TOP: 28.4 Quantum Mechanics and the Hydrogen Atom

44. If the principal quantum number for hydrogen is 5, which one of the following is not a permitted
orbital magnetic quantum number for that atom?
a. 6
b. -2
c. 0
d. 3
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: 1
TOP: 28.4 Quantum Mechanics and the Hydrogen Atom

45. The quantum number that can have only two possible values is the:
a. principal quantum number.
b. orbital quantum number.
c. orbital magnetic quantum number.
d. spin magnetic quantum number.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: 1
TOP: 28.4 Quantum Mechanics and the Hydrogen Atom

46. The quantum mechanical model of the hydrogen atom suggests a visual picture of the electron as
which of the following?
a. raisin in pudding
b. probability cloud
c. planetary orbiting body
d. light quantum
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: 1
TOP: 28.4 Quantum Mechanics and the Hydrogen Atom

47. The quantity ________, where Ø is the wave function, represents the probability per unit volume of
finding an electron in that volume.
a. Ø1/2
b. Ø
c. Ø3/2
d. Ø2
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: 1
TOP: 28.4 Quantum Mechanics and the Hydrogen Atom

48. In a plot of probability of finding the electron in the hydrogen ground state versus the distance from
the nucleus, the maximum occurs:
a. at a0, the first Bohr radius.
b. at slightly less than a0.
c. at slightly more than a0.
d. at 2 a0.
 ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: 1
TOP: 28.4 Quantum Mechanics and the Hydrogen Atom

49. The restriction that no more than one electron may occupy a given quantum state in an atom was first
stated by which of the following scientists?
a. Bohr
b. de Broglie
c. Heisenberg
d. Pauli
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: 1
TOP: 28.5 The Exclusion Principle and the Periodic Table

50. How many electrons are in bromine’s (atomic number 35) next to outer shell (n = 3)?
a. 2
b. 4
c. 8
d. 18
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: 2
TOP: 28.5 The Exclusion Principle and the Periodic Table

51. Imagine that an electron had a spin of 5/2 so that its spin quantum number, ms, could have the
following six values: ms = +5/2, +3/2, +1/2, -1/2, -3/2, and -5/2. If this were true, the first element with
a filled shell would be:
a. He with 2 electrons.
b. Be with 4 electrons.
c. C with 6 electrons.
d. O with 8 electrons.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 3
TOP: 28.5 The Exclusion Principle and the Periodic Table

52. The ground state electronic configuration for aluminum is 1s22s22p63s23p1. In which shell is the last
(3p1) electron?
a. K
b. L
c. M
d. N
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 1
TOP: 28.5 The Exclusion Principle and the Periodic Table

53. The ground state electronic configuration for aluminum is 1s22s22p63s23p1. What is the orbital
quantum number of the last (3p1) electron?
a. 0
b. 1
c. 2
d. 3
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: 2
TOP: 28.5 The Exclusion Principle and the Periodic Table

54. The x-rays that occur when a high energy electron beam is incident on a metal target will show what
type of spectrum?
 a. continuous
b. line
c. continuous spectrum superimposed with a line spectrum
d. absorption
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 1 TOP: 28.6 Characteristic X-Rays

55. If the energy for the ground state level (n = 1) of hydrogen is -13.6 eV, which of the following gives
an approximate value for the energy of an electron of the K shell (n = 1) of the element oxygen for
which the atomic number = 8?
a. -95 eV
b. -109 eV
c. -666 eV
d. -1 100 eV
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 2 TOP: 28.6 Characteristic X-Rays

56. Which of the following demonstrated the relation between the atomic number of a given element and
the wavelength of the K-alpha x-ray photon emitted by that element?
a. Bohr
b. Compton
c. Moseley
d. Pauli
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 1 TOP: 28.6 Characteristic X-Rays

57. If a target element with atomic number Z used in the production of x-rays is replaced by another
element for which the atomic number = 3Z, by what factor is the wavelength of the K-alpha x-ray line
changed?
a. 1/9
b. 1/3
c. 3
d. 9
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: 2 TOP: 28.6 Characteristic X-Rays

58. In an x-ray machine, electrons are accelerated and then fired so that they are incident on a metal target.
Which part of the process produces the characteristic x-ray spectra?
a. The incident electron loses energy.
b. The incident electron knocks an electron out of one of the metal atoms.
c. A vacancy in an energy level in a metal atom is filled.
d. The incident electron emits an x-ray.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 2 TOP: 28.6 Characteristic X-Rays

59. Characteristic x-rays are the result of:

a. outer electron transitions.
b. inner electron transitions.
c. nuclear electron states.
d. buckytubes.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: 1 TOP: 28.6 Characteristic X-Rays

60. When a hydrogen atom absorbs a photon that raises it to the n = 4 state, how many different energies
are possible for the photon(s) that may be emitted as the atom eventually returns to the ground state?
 a. 3
b. 4
c. 5
d. The correct answer is not given.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 2
TOP: 28.7 Atomic Transitions and Lasers

61. When a hydrogen atom absorbs a photon that raises it to the n = 4 state, what is the greatest number of
photons that can be emitted by that atom as it returns to the ground state?
a. 3
b. 4
c. 5
d. The correct answer is not given.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: 2
TOP: 28.7 Atomic Transitions and Lasers

62. The stimulated emission of photons from the excited atoms in a gas laser is prompted by which of the
following?
a. high voltage
b. high flux of electrons
c. nearby presence of photons of same wavelength as those emitted
d. high temperature
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 1
TOP: 28.7 Atomic Transitions and Lasers

63. The red light from a HeNe laboratory laser results from a transition in Ne. Determine the wavelength
of the light given off if the energy difference between states is 1.96 eV. (h = 6.63 ´ 10-34 J×s, c = 3.00 ´
108 m/s, 1 eV = 1.60 ´ 10-19 J, and 1 nm = 10-9 m)
a. 575 nm
b. 601 nm
c. 634 nm
d. 652 nm
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 2
TOP: 28.7 Atomic Transitions and Lasers

64. The wavelength of coherent ruby laser light is 688.3 nm. What energy difference exists between the
upper excited state involved and the lower unexcited ground state? (h = 6.63 ´ 10-34 J×s, c = 3.00 ´ 108
m/s, 1 eV = 1.60 ´ 10-19 J, and 1 nm = 10-9 m)
a. 1.75 eV
b. 1.81 eV
c. 1.86 eV
d. 1.94 eV
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: 2
TOP: 28.7 Atomic Transitions and Lasers

65. A ruby laser can deliver an 8.57 J pulse in approximately 50 nanoseconds. The wavelength of the light
is 694.4 nm. At least how many atoms within the ruby rod had to be excited to allow this high-energy
laser pulse? (h = 6.63 ´ 10-34 J×s, c = 3.00 ´ 108 m/s, 1 eV = 1.6 ´ 10-19 J, and 1 nm = 10-9 m)
a. 4 ´ 1018
b. 8 ´ 1018
 c. 3 ´ 1019
d. 6 ´ 1020
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 2
TOP: 28.7 Atomic Transitions and Lasers

66. Which of the following conditions must be satisfied for laser action?
a. A ruby or similar crystalline material must be used.
b. A population inversion must occur.
c. The photons must be red.
d. A binary system must be used.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: 1
TOP: 28.7 Atomic Transitions and Lasers

67. In neon, the 20.66-eV level can undergo lasing action to the 18.70-eV level. What is the energy of the
resulting photons?
a. 20.66 eV
b. 18.70 eV
c. 39.36 eV
d. 1.96 eV
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: 1
TOP: 28.7 Atomic Transitions and Lasers

68. Consider the hydrogen atom, singly ionized helium atom, and the doubly ionized lithium atom.
Arrange these atoms from highest energy ground state to lowest energy ground state.
a. H, He+, Li++
b. Li++, He+, H
c. H, Li++, He+
d. Since each of these atoms has only one electron, they all have the same energy ground
state.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: 2 TOP: Conceptual Questions

69. In the n = 4 shell, how many distinct values of are possible?

a. 4
b. 8
c. 9
d. The correct value is not given.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: 2 TOP: Conceptual Questions

70. Selenium has atomic number 34. In its ground state, how many electrons are in its n = 2 shell?
a. 2
b. 8
c. 10
d. 16
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: 2 TOP: Conceptual Questions

71. If a hydrogen atom, originally in its ground state of energy –13.6 eV, absorbs a photon of energy 15.0
eV, what is the resulting kinetic energy of the electron if the proton has negligible kinetic energy?
a. Such a photon cannot be absorbed in this case.
b. –1.4 eV
c. 1.4 eV
 d. 15.0 eV
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 2 TOP: Conceptual Questions

72. For the n = 4 shell, what are the lowest values possible for and respectively?
a. 0, 0
b. –4, –4
c. 0, –3
d. –3, –3
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: 2 TOP: Conceptual Questions