Concept:
According to Bohr's theory of the hydrogen atom, the energy of an electron in the $n^{th}$ orbit ($E_n$) is inversely proportional to the square of the principal quantum number ($n$). The mathematical expression for the energy of an orbit is:
$$E_n = -\frac{k \cdot Z^2}{n^2}$$
Where:
• $E_n$ is the energy of the $n^{th}$ orbit.
• $Z$ is the atomic number (for Hydrogen, $Z = 1$).
• $n$ is the principal quantum number (orbit number).
• $k$ is a constant representing the energy of the ground state.
From this formula, we can derive a proportionality relationship for a specific element:
$$E_n \propto \frac{1}{n^2}$$
Step 1: Establishing the ratio between two orbits.
Let $E_2$ be the energy of the second orbit ($n_1 = 2$) and $E_4$ be the energy of the fourth orbit ($n_2 = 4$). Based on the inverse-square relationship:
$$\frac{E_4}{E_2} = \frac{n_1^2}{n_2^2}$$
Substituting the orbit numbers:
$$\frac{E_4}{E_2} = \frac{2^2}{4^2} = \frac{4}{16} = \frac{1}{4}$$
Step 2: Substituting the given value.
We are given that the energy of the second Bohr orbit ($E_2$) is $-328 \, \text{kJ mol}^{-1}$.
Using the relationship derived in
Step 1:
$$E_4 = E_2 \times \frac{1}{4}$$
$$E_4 = -328 \times \frac{1}{4}$$
Step 3: Final Calculation.
Perform the division:
$$E_4 = - \frac{328}{4}$$
$$E_4 = -82 \, \text{kJ mol}^{-1}$$
This calculation shows that as the electron moves further from the nucleus (to a higher orbit), the energy level increases (becomes less negative).