The wavelength of the photon emitted in a transition depends on

  • A. the difference in energy between the two levels
  • B. the sum of the two energy levels
  • C. the number of electrons in the atom only
  • D. the temperature of the gas

Explanation

The photon carries away exactly the energy difference, and since energy is hc over wavelength, a larger gap gives a shorter wavelength. This is why transitions to the ground state produce ultraviolet while transitions between high levels produce infrared. Temperature affects how many atoms are excited, not the wavelengths available.

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