Electrons move to a lower energetic state within an atom or molecule when they release energy.
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When an electron releases energy, it can move to a lower energy level or transition to a different orbital within an atom. This movement can involve emitting a photon of light or transferring energy to another particle through collision. The electron does not move in a traditional sense like a particle traveling through space but rather changes its energy state within the atom.
An electron jumps from the ground state to an excited state when it absorbs energy, typically in the form of a photon. This causes the electron to move to a higher energy level, creating an excited state. When the electron later falls back to the ground state, it releases the absorbed energy in the form of a photon.
When an electron is excited, it absorbs a specific amount of energy to move to a higher energy state. When it returns to its ground state, it releases this absorbed energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation. The energy released is equal to the energy absorbed during excitation, following the principle of conservation of energy.
When an electron is acquired by a neutral atom, the energy change is called electron affinity. Neutral atoms with an s2p6 electron configuration in the highest energy level are best classified as gases.
When you move an electron in an atom from a lower energy level to a higher energy level, it is called an electron excitation. This process requires the electron to absorb energy to move to a higher energy state.
When an electron releases a photon, it moves to a lower energy level within the atom. This process is known as an electron transition. The released photon carries the energy difference between the initial and final energy levels of the electron.