What is the Difference Between Ground State and Excited State?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The difference between ground state and excited state lies in the energy levels of electrons in an atom.
- Ground State: In the ground state, electrons occupy the lowest possible energy levels, with each lower energy level being filled to its maximum capacity before electrons move on to higher levels. The ground state is the most stable arrangement and represents the "normal" state of the electrons for a stable element.
- Excited State: An atom enters the excited state when it absorbs energy, causing an electron to move from a lower energy level to a higher energy level. This results in a higher energy configuration, which is less stable than the ground state. Excited states are often created when an atom absorbs energy from external sources, such as light or heat.
In summary, the main difference between the ground state and the excited state is the energy levels of electrons in the atom:
- In the ground state, electrons are in their lowest possible energy levels, resulting in the most stable arrangement.
- In the excited state, electrons occupy higher energy levels, which is less stable than the ground state.
On this pageWhat is the Difference Between Ground State and Excited State? Comparative Table: Ground State vs Excited State
Comparative Table: Ground State vs Excited State
The difference between ground state and excited state can be summarized in the following table:
| Feature | Ground State | Excited State |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | The ground state is the lowest energy, most stable arrangement of electrons in an atom or molecule. | The excited state is a higher energy arrangement of electrons that occurs when electrons absorb energy and "jump" to a higher energy level. |
| Electron Configuration | In the ground state, all lower electron configuration levels are filled prior to moving on to the higher levels. | In the excited state, one or more electrons are in higher energy levels than they would be in the ground state. |
| Stability | The ground state is the most stable configuration for an atom or molecule. | The excited state is less stable than the ground state and requires energy to maintain. |
| Energy | The ground state has the lowest possible energy for an atom or molecule. | The excited state has a higher energy than the ground state due to the energy absorbed by the electrons. |
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