Which relaxation transition is possible, #3s->2p# in sodium or #3p -> 2s# in chlorine?

1 Answer
Truong-Son N.
Jan 26, 2018

Neither. This process is not possible.

Both sodium and chlorine have full #2s# and #2p# orbitals, so if some electron from a #3s# orbital in sodium or a #3p# orbital in chlorine jumps DOWN to #n = 2#, it would get repelled back up and no light would be released.

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