orbital shells and energy levels

High school and undergrad physics teaches that electrons change energy
levels when they emit or absorb a photon.

They also cover orbital shells (moreso in chem than physics).

But they never draw a connection at that level of study.

So is there a connection? Are orbital energy levels related to shells?

I don't expect the answer is that an electron would jump to an outer shell
and leave an inner one less than full. But still, it seems likely there is
a relationship between these things that is not covered in the 101-102
courses.

 

I've googled enough questions to know that isn't always the best way to find
an answer.

Bonding just got even more complicated.

Thanks!

 

At some point, quantum mechanics doesn't allow for answers to
questions like that. The photon energy comes from the change
in electron energy.

If you are asking about s, p, d, f, orbitals, those are different
angular momentum states, and the complications of the energy relate
to the interaction between electrons. You are allowed to ask about
that, though the answers aren't so easy.

It will when it absorbs a photon, or otherwise gets more energy.

One interesting process is the Auger effect. If you knock out
an inner shell electron, usually K shell. Another falls into
its place, but instead of emitting a photon it instead knocks
another electron out. The energy of that electron is related to
the three levels involved, and has a fairly well defined energy.
(That is, narrow line width.)

-- glen

 

I think you are wrong. High school physics teaches that
the lower shells are the first to be filled. "Lowest" then
means lowest in energy. So energy levels are actually mentioned.

Why not? If it absorbs a photon (as in your first sentence)
they could nicely jump to an outer shell (or completely out
of the atom!)

It is likely indeed that not everything is covered in there..

 

Sounds very close to what was taught to me in school almost 40 years
ago now, on this very same subject. I must of had some good lab
instructors