Question

Why do transitioning electrons release or absorb energy?

Answer 1

Answer:

When elements are heated or energized, their electrons absorb energy and transition to a higher energy level.

Answer 2

Answer:

when an electron jumped into higher energy level  from lower energy level it must absorbed the energy because with small amount of energy it can not jumped into higher energy level.

when it came back to lower energy level it release extra energy.

Explanation:

The electron is jumped into higher level and back into lower level by absorbing and releasing the energy.

The process is called excitation and de-excitation.

Excitation:

When the energy is provided to the atom the electrons by absorbing the energy jump to the higher energy levels. This process is called excitation. The amount of energy absorbed by the electron is exactly equal to the energy difference of orbits.  For example if electron jumped from K to L it must absorbed the energy which is equal the energy difference of these two level. The excited electron thus move back to lower energy level which is K by releasing the energy because electron can not stay longer in higher energy level and comes to ground state.

De-excitation:

When the excited electron fall back to the lower energy levels the energy is released in the form of radiations. this energy is exactly equal to the energy difference between the orbits. The characteristics bright colors are due to the these emitted radiations. These emitted radiations can be seen if they are fall in the visible region of spectrum .