Question.
What transition in the hydrogen spectrum would have the same wavelength as the Balmer transition $n=4$ to $n=2$ of $\mathrm{He}^{+}$spectrum?
What transition in the hydrogen spectrum would have the same wavelength as the Balmer transition $n=4$ to $n=2$ of $\mathrm{He}^{+}$spectrum?
Solution:
For $\mathrm{He}^{+}$ion, the wave number $(\bar{v})$ associated with the Balmer transition, $n=4$ to $n$
$=2$ is given by:
$\bar{v}=\frac{1}{\lambda}=R Z^{2}\left(\frac{1}{n_{1}^{2}}-\frac{1}{n_{2}^{2}}\right)$
Where, $n_{1}=2$
$n_{2}=4$
$Z=$ atomic number of helium
$\bar{v}=\frac{1}{\lambda}=R(2)^{2}\left(\frac{1}{4}-\frac{1}{16}\right)$
$=4 R\left(\frac{4-1}{16}\right)$
$\bar{v}=\frac{1}{\lambda}=\frac{3 R}{4}$
$\Rightarrow \lambda=\frac{4}{3 R}$
According to the question, the desired transition for hydrogen will have the same wavelength as that of $\mathrm{He}^{+}$.
$\Rightarrow R(1)^{2}\left[\frac{1}{n_{1}^{2}}-\frac{1}{n_{2}^{2}}\right]=\frac{3 R}{4}$
$\left[\frac{1}{n_{1}^{2}}-\frac{1}{n_{2}^{2}}\right]=\frac{3}{4}$ .....(i)
By hit and trail method, the equality given by equation (1) is true only when
$n_{1}=1$ and $n_{2}=2$
$\therefore$ The transition for $n_{2}=2$ to $n=1$ in hydrogen spectrum would have the same wavelength as Balmer transition $n=4$ to $n=2$ of $\mathrm{He}^{+}$spectrum.
For $\mathrm{He}^{+}$ion, the wave number $(\bar{v})$ associated with the Balmer transition, $n=4$ to $n$
$=2$ is given by:
$\bar{v}=\frac{1}{\lambda}=R Z^{2}\left(\frac{1}{n_{1}^{2}}-\frac{1}{n_{2}^{2}}\right)$
Where, $n_{1}=2$
$n_{2}=4$
$Z=$ atomic number of helium
$\bar{v}=\frac{1}{\lambda}=R(2)^{2}\left(\frac{1}{4}-\frac{1}{16}\right)$
$=4 R\left(\frac{4-1}{16}\right)$
$\bar{v}=\frac{1}{\lambda}=\frac{3 R}{4}$
$\Rightarrow \lambda=\frac{4}{3 R}$
According to the question, the desired transition for hydrogen will have the same wavelength as that of $\mathrm{He}^{+}$.
$\Rightarrow R(1)^{2}\left[\frac{1}{n_{1}^{2}}-\frac{1}{n_{2}^{2}}\right]=\frac{3 R}{4}$
$\left[\frac{1}{n_{1}^{2}}-\frac{1}{n_{2}^{2}}\right]=\frac{3}{4}$ .....(i)
By hit and trail method, the equality given by equation (1) is true only when
$n_{1}=1$ and $n_{2}=2$
$\therefore$ The transition for $n_{2}=2$ to $n=1$ in hydrogen spectrum would have the same wavelength as Balmer transition $n=4$ to $n=2$ of $\mathrm{He}^{+}$spectrum.