Question

When N2* relaxes back to the ground state it emits a photon of wavelength 470 nm, which makes up part of the aurora’s lights. Calculate the energy difference between the MOs involved in the transition.

Answer 1

We know that Energy difference, E = hc / λ

Where

h = plank's constant = 6.625x 10^-34 Js

c = speed of light = 3x 10⁸ m/s

λ = wave length of emitted light = 470 nm = 470x10^-9 m

Plug the values we get E = (6.625x 10^-34 Jsx3x 10⁸ m/s)/(470x10^-9 )

                                     = 4.23x10^-19 J

Therefore the energy difference between the MOs involved in the transition is 4.23x10^-19 J