Video Transcript
Which of the following statements about energy levels in an atom is incorrect? (A) Level 1 is closest to the nucleus. (B) Level 3 has less energy than level 4. (C) Level K is closest to the nucleus. (D) Level K is farther from the nucleus than level L. Or (E) level N has greater energy than level K.
This question is asking us about the energy levels of an atom. The energy levels of an atom are the distances from the nucleus that describe the
location of electrons. At the center of each atom, there is a positively charged nucleus. Surrounding it are energy levels. These energy levels describe at what distance the negatively charged electrons orbit
the nucleus.
The first seven energy levels of an atom can be ordered 1 through 7, 1 being the
closest to the nucleus and 7 being the farthest. We can also assign the energy levels letters K through Q. We can use these capital letter symbols and numbers to refer to the different energy
levels. The energy associated with the electrons on a certain energy level is related to its
distance from the nucleus. For example, level K is closest and thus has the lowest energy, while level Q is the
farthest and would have the greatest energy.
Let’s have a look at our answer choices.
Answer choice (A) states that energy level 1 is closest to the nucleus. We can see that this energy level is the nearest the nucleus. Since this answer choice is true and the question is asking us to identify the
incorrect statement, we can eliminate answer choice (A).
Answer choice (B) suggests that energy level 3 has less energy than level 4. As we discussed, an energy level has more energy if it is farther from the
nucleus. Since level 3 is closer to the nucleus, it has less energy than level 4. And so we can eliminate answer choice (B).
Answer choice (C) states that level K is closest to the nucleus. We can see from the diagram that level K is the first energy level. Since it is the first level and is therefore the closest, this is true, and we can
eliminate answer choice (C).
Answer choice (D) states that level K is farther from the nucleus than level L. We can see that when comparing K and L, level K is closer to the nucleus. Since this statement is incorrect, we have found the answer to this question.
Let’s rule out answer choice (E) just in case, which states that level N has greater
energy than level K. Level N is farther from the nucleus than level K. The farther the energy level, the higher the amount of energy. This means that level N does have greater energy than level K. And since this is true, we can eliminate answer choice (E).
Therefore, the statement about energy levels in an atom that is incorrect is answer
choice (D). Level K is farther from the nucleus than level L.
