Three isotopes of hydrogen occur in nature; ordinary hydrogen, deuterium, and tritium. Their nuclei consist of, respectively, 1 proton, 1 proton and 1 neutron (deuteron), and 1 proton and 2 neutrons (triton). The masses of the three nuclei are given in Table 11-1.

(a) Use Equation 4-26 to determine Rydberg constants for deuterium and tritium.

(b) Determine the wavelength difference between the Balmer a lines of deuterium and tritium. 

(c) Determine the wavelength difference between the Balmer a lines of hydrogen and tritium.

Table 11-1

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Table 11-1 Fundamental properties of atomic constituents Magnetic moment Particle Charge Mass (u) Proton Neutron Deuteron Triton Electron +e 0 te +e -e 1.007276 1.008665 2.013553 3.015501 5.4858 x 10-4 Mass (kg) Spin 1/2 1/2 1 1.6726 X 10-27 1.6749x 10-2 -27 3.3436 × 10-27 -27 5.0074 x 102 9.1094 × 10-31 1/2 1/2 2.79285 RN -1.91304 PN 0.85744 PN 2.97896 IN 1.00116 PB