An electron makes a transition from an excited state to the ground state of a hydrogen like atom. Out of the following statements which one is correct ? (A) K.E, P. E. and T.E. decreases (B) K.E. increases but P. E. and T.E. decreases (C) K.E. and T.E. decreases but P.E. increases (D) K.E. decreases, P.E. increases but T.E. remains the same

Step-by-step solution

For a hydrogen-like atom, the kinetic energy, potential energy, and total energy of an electron in the n -th orbit are given by: K.E. = 13.6 Z^2 n^2 eV P.E. = - 27.2 Z^2 n^2 eV T.E. = - 13.6 Z^2 n^2 eV When the electron makes a transition from an excited state to the ground state, the principal quantum number n decreases. As n decreases, 1 n^2 increases. Therefore, K.E. increases. Since P.E. and T.E. are negative, their magnitudes increase, which means their actual values decrease (become more negative). Thus, K.E.