Question

1. a. define: ground state and excited state.

b. what happens when you excite an electron?

Explanation:

• Ground State: The lowest energy state of an atom or molecule where electrons occupy the lowest available energy levels.
• Excited State: A state where an atom or molecule has absorbed energy, and electrons are in higher - energy orbitals than in the ground state.
• When an electron is excited: It absorbs energy (such as light or heat) and jumps to a higher - energy orbital. This is an unstable state, and the electron will eventually return to the ground state. When it does so, it releases the absorbed energy, often in the form of light (photon) with a specific wavelength corresponding to the energy difference between the excited and ground states.

Answer:

• A. Ground State: The lowest energy state of an atom/molecule with electrons in lowest energy levels. Excited State: State with electrons in higher - energy orbitals due to energy absorption.
• B. When an electron is excited: It absorbs energy and moves to a higher - energy orbital (unstable), then will return to ground state and release energy (often as light).