From TopScore Bio II test
It says from 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p5 4s2 to 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s1 is going from excited state to ground state.
Isn't this backward? (i.e. from ground state to excited state).

I've always thought that excited state is when you an electron moves to higher subshell. Since 3p subshell is higher than 4s subshell going from 4s to 3p will be excited state. Am I misunderstanding something?

Thanks in advance.

From TopScore Bio II test
It says from 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p5 4s2 to 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s1 is going from excited state to ground state.
Isn't this backward? (i.e. from ground state to excited state).

I've always thought that excited state is when you an electron moves to higher subshell. Since 3p subshell is higher than 4s subshell going from 4s to 3p will be excited state. Am I misunderstanding something?

Thanks in advance.
4s has a higher energy level compared to 3p (Notice how in the following figure 3p fills up before 4s). So, electrons are falling from the higher energy state (excited state) to the lower energy state (ground state).
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/HBASE/pertab/imgper/pertabord.gif

Wait wait wait..
It was p... not d!?!?!?!?!!
I thought I was looking at a 3d and 4s.. even when I was typing the question. LOL
I need to stop studying for tonight...
Thanks nze.