Take the Potential Energy of a Hydrogen Atom to Be

question 4

Multiple Choice

Take the potential energy of a hydrogen atom to be zero for infinite separation of the electron and porton. Then the ground state energy of a hydrogen atom is -13.6 eV. The minus sign indicates:

• A) the kinetic energy is negative
• B) the potential energy is positive
• C) the electron might escape from the atom
• D) the electron and proton are bound together
• E) none of the above