What is the difference between the Rydberg constants $R_{H} = {109678.77 cm}^{- 1}$ $R_H = "109678.77 cm"^(-1)$ and $R_{\infty} = {109737.32 cm}^{- 1}$ $R_(oo) = "109737.32 cm"^(-1)$ ?

Question

What is the difference between the Rydberg constants $R_{H} = {109678.77 cm}^{- 1}$ $R_H = "109678.77 cm"^(-1)$ and $R_{\infty} = {109737.32 cm}^{- 1}$ $R_(oo) = "109737.32 cm"^(-1)$ ?

1 Answer

Impact of this question

8302 views around the world

You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License

Answer 1 · 2017-01-05T21:42:43

It just depends on what kinds of atoms you use it for.

These Rydberg constants are (Inorganic Chemistry, Miessler et al.):

$R_{\infty} = {1.0973731568539}_{55} \times 10^{7}$ $color(blue)(R_(oo)) = 1.0973731568539_(55)xx10^7$ $m^{- 1}$ $"m"^(-1)$

$= {109737.31568539}_{55}$ $= color(blue)(109737.31568539_(55))$ ${cm}^{- 1}$ $color(blue)("cm"^(-1))$

$R_{H} = {1.0967877174307}_{10} \times 10^{7}$ $color(blue)(R_(H)) = 1.0967877174307_(10)xx10^7$ $m^{- 1}$ $"m"^(-1)$

$= {109678.77174307}_{10}$ $= color(blue)(109678.77174307_(10))$ ${cm}^{- 1}$ $color(blue)("cm"^(-1))$

where subscript digits indicate digits of high uncertainty.

$R_{\infty}$ $R_(oo)$ , the constant for the limit of "infinite" nuclear mass, is used for heavy atoms, which have a heavy nucleus, considered to be "infinitely" heavier than the mass of each electron.

$R_{H}$ $R_(H)$ , the constant for the proton nuclear mass, is used for hydrogen atom only, because its nucleus is only one proton, which is about $1836.15$ $1836.15$ times as heavy as an electron, but not "infinitely" heavier.

Science

Math

Humanities

... and beyond

What is the difference between the Rydberg constants $R_{H} = {109678.77 cm}^{- 1}$ $R_H = "109678.77 cm"^(-1)$ and $R_{\infty} = {109737.32 cm}^{- 1}$ $R_(oo) = "109737.32 cm"^(-1)$ ?

1 Answer

Related questions

Impact of this question

Science

Math

Humanities

... and beyond

What is the difference between the Rydberg constants RH=109678.77 cm−1R_H = "109678.77 cm"^(-1) and R∞=109737.32 cm−1R_(oo) = "109737.32 cm"^(-1)?

1 Answer

Related questions

Impact of this question

What is the difference between the Rydberg constants $R_{H} = {109678.77 cm}^{- 1}$ $R_H = "109678.77 cm"^(-1)$ and $R_{\infty} = {109737.32 cm}^{- 1}$ $R_(oo) = "109737.32 cm"^(-1)$ ?