[CHM 331] 12.17

[Andrew J. Pounds]

On 01/20/2017 07:12 PM, wrote:
>
> Dr. Pounds,
>
>
> Is the Balmer series solved for using equation 12.21 in the book? If 
> so then why when I raise Plank's constant to the third power it equals 
> to zero in my calculator?
>
>
> Thanks,
>
>
>
Okay -- so your particula calculator probably has a limit of numbers 
between (+/-) 9e-99 and 9e+99.  No worries -- you just have to be a 
little more creative when you solve problems like this.

So the book gives you equation 12.21 as a way to solve for the frequency 
of the radiation, $\nu$. Remember that $E=h\nu=\frac{hc}{\lambda}$.  If 
we pull one power of $h$ from the denominator on the right of the 
equation and regroup it with the $\nu$ on the left then we are solving 
for energy and not frequency.   If that is the case, then it is possible 
to use the Rydberg constant (check out those units for the Rydberg 
constant in the front cover of your text) on the left side of right side 
of the equation to get the energy of the transition.  You then divide 
this by $h$ to get $\nu$.


-- 
Andrew J. Pounds, Ph.D.  (pounds_aj at mercer.edu)
Professor of Chemistry and Computer Science
Mercer University,  Macon, GA 31207   (478) 301-5627
http://faculty.mercer.edu/pounds_aj

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