Higher-energy orbit WWWPhoton 410 nm 434 nm Lower-energy 486 nm orbit 656 nm 1 -2 (a) Electronic emission transition (b) Balmer series transitions http://catalog.flatworldknowledge.com/bookhub/4309?e=averill_1.0-ch06_s03 The electrons of an atom can occupy different energy shells within the atom (similar to how the planets all occupy different orbits around the Sun). Electrons prefer to be in the lowest energy shell possible (the ground state); however, they can gain energy and jump to a higher shell by absorbing light or being excited by an electric current. In accordance with the conservation of energy, if an electron drops from a higher energy level to a lower one, this must emit a photon (particle of light) with energy equal to the energy difference of the shells. A Balmer series transition is any transition of an electron from some higher energy shell down to the second lowest energy shell (n=2) in hydrogen. Looking at image (b) above, what is the wavelength of a photon emitted during the Balmer transition from the n=3 shell in hydrogen? (remember nm is short for a nanometer, for example 656 nm = 656 x 10-9 meters) 656E-9 meters 486E-9 meters 434E-9 meters 410E-9 meters