Page 57 - Chemistry eBook
P. 57
Changing States (Ground State toExcited State)
When An Element Changes State:
1. When an element changes from ground state to excited state, it absorbs energy (it takes in energy, which allows it to move further away from the nucleus).
2. When it falls back from excited state to ground state, it releases energy - in the form of spectral lines - colors!
“No, I don’t mean changing from New York to New Jersey so that you don’t have to take the Regents!”
Ground stateà excited state: absorbs energy
Level 2 Level 1
photon
Level 2 Level 1
Excited stateà ground state: releases energy
photon
UNIT 2: ATOMIC STRUCTURE © 57
