When electrons in an atom absorb energy from light, what typically happens to them?

• A. They move to a higher energy level (excited state).
• B. They lose energy and drop to a lower energy level.
• C. They are ejected from the nucleus.
• D. They are converted into protons.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that electrons in an atom occupy specific energy levels or shells, which are quantized states where electrons can exist without radiating energy.
2. When electrons absorb energy from light (photons), this energy must match the difference between their current energy level and a higher one for a transition to occur.
3. Upon absorbing the correct amount of energy, electrons move from a lower energy level (ground state) to a higher energy level, which is called an excited state.
4. Note that electrons do not get ejected from the nucleus because electrons are located in the electron cloud around the nucleus, not inside it, and absorbing light energy typically does not provide enough energy to remove them from the atom entirely.
5. Also, electrons cannot be converted into protons; these are different fundamental particles with distinct properties.