Rydberg Equation!?

Question

The equation is 1/λ=R I I [1/n1<--subscript)2<--superscript)-1/n2 <---subscript)2<--superscript)] n = energy level

How do I solve it if the n= 1
please list your steps.

Answer 1

You might try seeing if someone has already asked the question:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AtIVjYOMHwhmhm_k6rVkipcjzKIX?qid=20061011214856AApfaUH
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AvyAWmO6uQebgrL1S7LuDZcjzKIX?qid=20061120110728AA2IbBu
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Aq7hAIHqWrz1YrDJyF8T2ksjzKIX?qid=20061101181645AAmmgfb
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AqZCew0kn4gf_XKgBhzNw04jzKIX?qid=20061127182457AA7hMFz

Answer 2

How did you do that lambda? I know the equation as:

1/lambda = R(1/n(sub one squared) -1/n(sub two squared)

Where R is the Rydberg constant and n(sub 1) and n(sub 2) are positive integers with n(sub 2)>n(sub 1)

This is a totally empirical (experimental) relationship to explain the wavelengths of the lines in the spectrum of hydrogen (which is the only thing it works for).

Now, for n=1 we would find a line at:

1/lambda = 1.096776 X10^7 m^-1(1/1 squared - 1/2 squared)

= 1.096776 X10^7 m^-1(0.75)

= 8225820m^-1

lambda = 1.216 X 10^-7 meters or 121.6 nm

which would be in the Ultraviolet. The visible series of lines all have the n(sub 1) equal to 2.