Atomic Spectra

The Lyman series in the hydrogen atom corresponds to electronic transitions from higher energy levels to the energy level. These transitions emit photons with high energy and short wavelengths, which lie in the ultraviolet region of the electromagnetic spectrum.

The wavelength of the lines in the hydrogen spectrum can be calculated using the Rydberg formula: where is the wavelength, and are the principal quantum numbers, and is the Rydberg constant. - The second line of the Balmer series corresponds to the transition from to , with a wavelength of 486.4 nm. - The first line of the Lyman series corresponds to the transition from to . Using the Rydberg formula for the first line of Lyman series: which simplifies to: Thus, the wavelength is: So, the correct answer is (B).