What is an excited state electron?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for an explanation of what an excited state electron is, which involves concepts from atomic and quantum physics. An excited state electron refers to an electron that has absorbed energy and moved to a higher energy level than its ground state.
Answer
An excited state electron occupies a higher energy state than its ground state, after absorbing energy.
An excited state electron temporarily occupies an energy level higher than its ground state. This occurs when an electron absorbs extra energy, such as from a photon or through a collision.
Answer for screen readers
An excited state electron temporarily occupies an energy level higher than its ground state. This occurs when an electron absorbs extra energy, such as from a photon or through a collision.
More Information
In the excited state, the electron is unstable and will eventually return to the ground state, releasing energy such as light or heat in the process.
Tips
Confusing the ground state with the excited state can lead to incorrect energy level configurations. It's important to distinguish between the two and recognize the source of energy input that excites the electron.
Sources
- Excited state - Wikipedia - en.wikipedia.org
- Excited State Definition in Chemistry - ThoughtCo - thoughtco.com
- Excited State in Chemistry | Definition & Example - Study.com - study.com
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