The energy of an electron in a hydrogen-like ion is given by the formula:
\( E_n = -\frac{13.6 \, \text{eV} \times Z^2}{n^2} \)
where \( Z \) is the atomic number, \( n \) is the principal quantum number of the orbit, and the energy is in electron volts. For the lithium ion \( \text{Li}^{2+} \), \( Z = 3 \) because it has 3 protons.
For the third orbit (\( n = 3 \)), the energy calculation is as follows:
\( E_3 = -\frac{13.6 \, \text{eV} \times 3^2}{3^2} \)
\( E_3 = -13.6 \, \text{eV} \)
To convert the energy from electron volts to joules, we use the conversion factor \( 1 \, \text{eV} = 1.602 \times 10^{-19} \, \text{J} \). Thus:
\( E_3 = -13.6 \times 1.602 \times 10^{-19} \, \text{J} \)
\( E_3 = -2.18 \times 10^{-18} \, \text{J} \)
Therefore, the energy of the third orbit of \( \text{Li}^{2+} \) ion is \( -2.18 \times 10^{-18} \, \text{J} \).