Determine the binding energy of a hydrogen atom when it is in the n = 2 state.

Step-by-step solution

The energy of an electron in the n -th orbit of a hydrogen atom is given by E_n = - 13.6 n^2 eV For the n = 2 state, the energy is E₂ = - 13.6 2^2 = - 13.6 4 = -3.4 eV The binding energy is the energy required to remove the electron from this state to infinity, which is the negative of the total energy. Binding energy = -E₂ = 3.4 eV