Question

question 4 of 30 which of the following best describes an electron transition?
a. an electron gains or loses energy and moves between continuous energy levels.
b. an electron gains or loses energy and moves between quantized energy levels.
c. an electron gains or loses charge and changes into a proton or a neutron.
d. an atom gains or loses an electron and becomes an ion.

Explanation:

• Option A: Energy levels of electrons are quantized (discrete), not continuous, so A is incorrect.
• Option B: Electron transition occurs when an electron gains or loses energy and moves between quantized (discrete) energy levels. This matches the concept of electron transitions in atomic models (like Bohr's model), where energy levels are specific and not continuous.
• Option C: Electrons do not change into protons or neutrons by gaining/losing charge; protons and neutrons are in the nucleus, and electrons have a fixed charge. So C is incorrect.
• Option D: This describes ionization (atom becoming an ion), not electron transition within an atom's energy levels. So D is incorrect.

Answer:

B. An electron gains or loses energy and moves between quantized energy levels.