Question

Which orbit number and energy correspond to a free electron?

Options

• \[n=1,\quad E=-13.6\,\mathrm{eV}\]

• \[n=3,\quad E=-1.51\,\mathrm{eV}\]

• \[n=\infty,\quad E=0\,\mathrm{eV}\]

• \[n=2,\quad E=-3.40\,\mathrm{eV}\]

Answer 1

When the electron is completely free from the atom, its energy is taken as zero. This corresponds to \[n=\infty\].