Question

The maximum energy is possessed by an electron, when it is present:

• A. in nucleus
• B. in ground energy state
• C. in first excited state
• D. at infinite distance from the nucleus

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

As we know that $E_n\propto \left[-\frac{1}{n^2}\right]$ where n is the number of orbit. Hence, as the value of n increases, energy of the electron also increases. Hence, when n becomes infinite, energy also becomes infinite. Hence, due to this reason maximum energy is possessed by an electron, when it is present at infinite distance from the nucleus.