What is the Difference Between Lyman and Balmer Series?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The Lyman and Balmer series are two different sets of spectral lines in the hydrogen spectrum, resulting from electron transitions in a hydrogen atom. The main differences between the Lyman and Balmer series are:
- Energy Levels: The Lyman series corresponds to electron transitions from higher energy levels to the n=1 energy level, while the Balmer series corresponds to electron transitions from higher energy levels to the n=2 energy level.
- Wavelength Ranges: The Lyman series emits ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which has a wavelength range of about 100-91.2 nm. In contrast, the Balmer series emits visible light, with a wavelength range of about 400-700 nm.
- Naming: The Lyman series is named after physicist Theodore Lyman, who discovered it, while the Balmer series is named after Johann Balmer, who discovered it.
In summary, the Lyman series involves electron transitions to the n=1 energy level and emits ultraviolet radiation, while the Balmer series involves electron transitions to the n=2 energy level and emits visible light.
Comparative Table: Lyman vs Balmer Series
The Lyman and Balmer series are two different sets of spectral lines in the hydrogen spectrum, resulting from electron transitions in a hydrogen atom. Here is a table summarizing the differences between the two series:
Property | Lyman Series | Balmer Series |
---|---|---|
Energy Level | n=1 | n=2 |
Wavelength Range | Ultraviolet | Visible Light |
Transitions | Electron drops to n=1 | Electron drops to n=2 |
Key Difference | Forms when an excited electron reaches the n=1 energy level | Forms when an excited electron reaches the n=2 energy level |
The Lyman series is a set of ultraviolet lines that fit the relationship with n_i = 1, while the Balmer series corresponds to electron transitions from higher energy levels to the n=2 energy level, emitting visible light.
- Rydberg vs Balmer Formula
- Spectrochemical Series vs Nephelauxetic Series
- Power Series vs Taylor Series
- Electrochemical Series vs Reactivity Series
- Rayleigh vs Raman Scattering
- Bremsstrahlung vs Cherenkov Radiation
- Galvanic Series vs Electrochemical Series
- Beryllium vs Lithium
- Hydrogen vs Helium Emission Spectra
- Series vs Sequence
- Pyranometer vs Pyrheliometer
- Cyclotron vs Betatron
- Emission vs Absorption Spectra
- IR vs Raman Spectra
- Chemiluminescence vs Fluorescence
- Absorption Spectrum vs Emission Spectrum
- Bohr vs Quantum Model
- De Broglie Wavelength vs Wavelength
- Flame Photometer vs Spectrophotometer