Energy ladder

An isotope can have lots of different discrete electron energy levels - we describe this as an energy ladder.

Each isotope can have a unique energy ladder.

We number each electron energy level in the energy ladder: starting from n=1 - the ground state

Increasing energy level

• If an electron moves from a lower energy level (closer to the ground state) to a higher energy level (further from the ground state and nucleus) then it has been excited.
• If it gains enough energy to fully leave the atom, then the atom has been ionised.

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