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1. In a discharge tube a high potential difference is applied across hydrogen gas contained in the
tube. This causes the hydrogen gas to emit light that can be used to produce the visible line
spectrum shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1
The visible line spectrum in Figure 1 has been used to predict some of the electron energy levels
in a hydrogen atom.
The energy levels predicted from the visible line spectrum are those between 0 and −3.40 eV in
the energy level diagram.
Some of the predicted energy levels are shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2
(a) Calculate the energy, in eV, of a photon of light that has the lowest frequency in the visible
hydrogen spectrum shown in Figure 1.
energy of photon = ____________________________ eV (3)
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(b) Identify the state of an electron in the energy level labelled 0.
(1)
(c) Identify the state of an electron that is in the energy level labelled –13.6 eV.
(1)
(d) Explain why the energy levels are negative.
(1)
(e) Discuss how the discharge tube is made to emit electromagnetic radiation of specific
frequencies.
In your answer you should:
• explain why there must be a high potential difference across the tube
• discuss how the energy level diagram in Figure 2 predicts the spectrum shown in
Figure 1
• show how one of the wavelengths of light is related to two of the energy levels in the
energy level diagram.
(6) (Total 12
marks)
2. The diagram below shows the line spectrum of a gas.
Explain how line spectra are produced. In your answer you should describe:
• how the collisions of charged particles with gas atoms can cause the atoms to emit
photons.
• how spectral lines are explained by the concept of discrete energy levels.
(Total 6 marks)
3. (a) The mercury atoms in a fluorescent tube are excited and then emit photons in the
ultraviolet region of the electromagnetic spectrum.
(3)
(i) Explain how the mercury atoms become excited.
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(ii) Explain how the excited mercury atoms emit photons.
(2)
(b) Explain how the ultraviolet photons in the tube are converted into photons in the visible part
of the electromagnetic spectrum.
(2) (Total 7
marks)
4. The diagram below shows the lowest three energy levels of a hydrogen atom.
(a) An electron is incident on a hydrogen atom. As a result an electron in the ground state of
the hydrogen atom is excited to the n = 2 energy level. The atom then emits a photon of a
characteristic frequency.
(i) Explain why the electron in the ground state becomes excited to the n = 2 energy
level.
(2)
(ii) Calculate the frequency of the photon.
frequency = ____________________ Hz
(3)
(iii) The initial kinetic energy of the incident electron is 1.70 × 10–18 J.
Calculate its kinetic energy after the collision.
kinetic energy = ____________________ J
(2)
(iv) Show that the incident electron cannot excite the electron in the ground state to the n
= 3 energy level.
(2)
(b) When electrons in the ground state of hydrogen atoms are excited to the n = 3 energy
level, photons of more than one frequency are subsequently released.
(i) Explain why different frequencies are possible.
(1)
(ii) State and explain how many possible frequencies could be produced.
(2) (Total 12
marks)
5. (a) When free electrons collide with atoms in their ground state, the atoms can be excited or
ionised.
(i) State what is meant by ground state.
(1)
(ii) Explain the difference between excitation and ionisation.
(3)
(b) An atom can also become excited by the absorption of photons. Explain why only photons
of certain frequencies cause excitation in a particular atom.
(4)
for a photon to cause the ionisation of a hydrogen atom. Give your answer to an
appropriate number of significant figures
(c) The ionisation energy of hydrogen is 13.6 eV. Calculate the minimum frequency necessary
answer ____________________Hz (4) (Total 12
marks)
6. (a) A fluorescent tube is filled with mercury vapour at low pressure. In order to emit
electromagnetic radiation the mercury atoms must first be excited.
(i) What is meant by an excited atom?
(1)
(ii) Describe the process by which mercury atoms become excited in a fluorescent tube.
(3)
(iii) What is the purpose of the coating on the inside surface of the glass in a fluorescent
tube?
(3)
(b) The lowest energy levels of a mercury atom are shown in the diagram below. The diagram
is not to scale.
(i) Calculate the frequency of an emitted photon due to the transition level n = 4 to level
n = 3. (3)
answer = ____________________ Hz
(ii) Draw an arrow on the diagram above to show a transition which emits a photon of a
longer wavelength than that emitted in the transition from level n = 4 to level n = 3. (2) (Total 12
marks)
