Consider an electron in an infinite well of width 0.7 nm . what is the wavelength of a photon emitted when the electron in the infinite well makes a transition from the first excited state to the ground state? the value of ¯h is 1.05457 × 10−34 j · s, the bohr radius is 5.29177 × 10−11 m , the rydberg constant for hydrogen is 1.09735 × 107 m−1 , the ground state energy for hydrogen is 13.6057 ev , and the speed of light is 2.99792 × 108 m/s. 1 ev = 1.60218 × 10−19 ev . answer in units of nm.

 λ  = 538.0 nm

Explanation:

The solution of the Schrödinger equation for the inner part of the well gives energy

      = (h² / 8mL²) n²

Where n is an integer and L is the length of the well

They ask for the transition from the first excited state n = 2 to the base state n = 1

       E₂ - E₁ = = (h² / 8mL²) (n₂² - n₁²)

Let's calculate

       E₂-E₁ = (6.63 10⁻³⁴)² / (8 9.1 10⁻³¹ (0.7 10⁻⁹)²) (2² -1²)

       E₂ –E₁ = 3.6968 10⁻¹⁹ J

Let's use the Planck equation

      E = h f

      c = λ f

      E = h c / λ

      E = E₂ ₂- E₁

      h c / λ  = 3.6968 10⁻¹⁹

      λ  = h c / (E₂-E₁)

      λ  = 6.63 10⁻³⁴ 3 10⁸ / 3.6968 10⁻¹⁹

      λ  = 5.380 10⁻⁷ m

Let's reduce

      λ  = 5.380 10⁻⁷ m (10 9 nm / 1 m)

      λ  = 538.0 nm