The radius of the innermost electron orbit of a hydrogen atom is 5.3 × 10–11 m. What are the radii of the n = 2 and n =3 orbits?

Given, radius of innermost orbit, r1 = 5.3 × 10–11 m


Then, let r2 be the radius of orbit at n = 2.


Then, r2 = (n)2r1


As shown in the diagram:



r2 = 22 × 5.3 × 10–11 m


r2 = 2.12 × 10–10 m


For n = 3, we have,


r3 = (n)2 r1


r3 = 32 × 5.3 × 10–11 m


r3 = 4.77 × 10–10 m


Hence, the radii of an electron for n = 2 and n=3 orbits are 2.12 × 10–10 m and 4.77 × 10–10 m


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