The I.P. of an atom is 36 eV. What is the value of second excitation potential :

(1)	5 eV
(2)	12 eV
(3)	32 eV
(4)	27 eV

To determine the second excitation potential of an atom with an ionization potential (I.P.) of 36 eV, we need to understand the relationship between ionization energy and excitation energy levels. The ionization potential is the energy required to remove an electron from an atom in its ground state, while excitation potential refers to the energy needed to move an electron from a lower energy level to a higher one without completely removing it from the atom.

Understanding Excitation Potentials

In a multi-electron atom, the energy levels are quantized, meaning electrons can occupy specific energy states. The first excitation potential is the energy required to promote an electron from the ground state to the first excited state. The second excitation potential is the energy needed to promote an electron from the ground state to the second excited state.

Calculating the Second Excitation Potential

For many atoms, the excitation energies can be estimated based on the ionization potential. The first excitation potential is often a fraction of the ionization potential, and subsequent excitation potentials can be derived from the differences in energy levels. In this case, we can use the given I.P. of 36 eV to analyze the options provided.

• First Excitation Potential: Typically, the first excitation potential is around 10-15% of the I.P. For our case, let's assume it is approximately 12 eV (which is a common value for many atoms).
• Second Excitation Potential: The second excitation potential can be calculated by considering the energy difference between the ground state and the second excited state. If we take the first excitation potential as 12 eV, the second excitation potential could be estimated by adding another similar energy level.

Thus, if the first excitation potential is around 12 eV, the second excitation potential might be around 12 eV + 12 eV = 24 eV. However, since we are looking for the closest option from the provided choices, we can analyze them further.

Evaluating the Options

Let's look at the options given:

• (1) 5 eV
• (2) 12 eV
• (3) 32 eV
• (4) 27 eV

Since we estimated the second excitation potential to be around 24 eV, the closest option available is (4) 27 eV. This suggests that the second excitation potential is likely around this value, considering the energy levels of the atom.

Final Thoughts

In summary, the second excitation potential for an atom with an ionization potential of 36 eV is best represented by option (4) 27 eV. This conclusion is drawn from understanding the relationship between ionization and excitation energies, as well as estimating the energy levels based on typical values for similar atoms.