Question

What is binding energy of a hydrogen atom?

Answer 1

The binding energy of a hydrogen atom is the amount of energy required to completely separate the electron from the proton in the atom (i.e., to ionize the atom and make both the electron and proton free particles).

For a hydrogen atom in its ground state, the binding energy is equal to the energy of the electron in the lowest energy level (n = 1) of the atom. This energy is given by the Bohr model:

`E_n = -13.6/n^2` eV

For n = 1: E₁​ = −13.6 eV

The binding energy is the positive value of this energy:

Binding Energy = 13.6 eV