Class 12 Physics simulations · Atoms

Spectral lines of hydrogen-like ions

Choose a one-electron ion and a transition. Higher nuclear charge shifts every line towards shorter wavelengths.

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What to notice

Energies scale as Z², so He⁺ lines are four times as energetic as the matching hydrogen lines.

Key relation

1/λ = R Z² (1/n₁² − 1/n₂²)

Try this

Find which transition in He⁺ lands in the visible range.

What you can change

• Nuclear charge Z: 1 to 10
• Lower level n₁: 1 to 4
• Upper level n₂: 2 to 8

More in Atoms

• Bohr’s atomic model
• Bohr orbits and electron waves
• Hydrogen energy-level ladder
• Hydrogen emission spectrum
• Rutherford alpha scattering

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