Question

A sodium vapor lamp operates by using electricity to excite the highest-energy electron to the next highest-energy level. light is produced when the excited electron drops back to the lower level. which two energy levels are involved in this process for the na atom?

Answer 1

Answer:

The energy levels are: 3s and 3p

Explanation:

The sodium (Na) element, with atomic number 11 (number of protons: Z=11), has the next electronic configuration:  

Z=11:  1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s¹ = [Ne] 3s¹    

Hence, the electricity used in a sodium vapor lamp will excite the electron of the energy state n=3 from the s-orbital to the next highest energy p-orbital which then drops back to the lower energy s-orbital by the emission of a photon resulting in the production of light.      

The transition of the electron is:

Excitation: [Ne] 3s¹ → [Ne] 3s⁰ 3p¹

Emission: [Ne] 3p¹ → [Ne] 3s¹                                                                    

So, the energy levels that are involved in the process are 3s and 3p.

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