Kaplan is wrong~

[ippie]

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Is the sign of energy positive or negative when a hydrogen electron relaxes from n=3 to n=2??? In my opinion, energy released in this situation, so the sign should be negative according to the formula E=-RH[1/(nf)2-1/(ni)2].

However, the Kaplan book says the formula E=-RH[1/(ni)2-1/(nf)2] which is totally inverse to my formula above. According to this formula, the sign of the energy becomes positive. Does it makes sennse?

 

[113zami]

yea that's what i think too, and i think prinston mcat chem section also says its negative when energy released, so i don't know why kaplan has it +
someone help??

 

[PreDent2009]

You are emitting energy as you fall down to small orbital sizes, the value will be negative. As you go for example from n=2 to n=5, then you are absorbing energry and will have a positive value.

 

[scuzfly]

They aren't wrong you have to read the next sentence. They say "some people do this and some do that. WE ARE GOING BY THIS." So it's what they say. I think I've always been taught that a negative value gives off evergy and a positive value requires energy. But yeah that one took me a second to read twice.