Question

The total energy of an electron in the first excited state of the hydrogen atom is about −3.4 eV.

What is the potential energy of the electron in this state?

Answer 1

Potential energy (U) of the electron is equal to the negative of twice its kinetic energy.

 ⇒ U = −2 K

= − 2 × 3.4

= −6.8 eV

Hence, the potential energy of the electron in the given state is −6.8 eV.