The lines of the Balmer series in the hydrogen spectrum arise from transitions ending at
- A. n equals 1
- B. n equals 2
- C. n equals 3
- D. n equals 4
Explanation
Transitions to the second level release energies corresponding to visible light, which is why the Balmer lines are the ones seen through a spectroscope. Transitions to the ground state form the ultraviolet Lyman series and those to the third level the infrared Paschen series. The series is identified by the level the electron lands on, not the one it starts from.