True or False: When atomic electrons are excited to a higher level, they always return to their lowest energy level by jumping down on level at a time.
Why would that be true ? If you heat or hit the atom enough electrons will fall down multiple levels and emit different spectral lines (energy levels, frequencies)
False.
When atomic electrons are excited to a higher energy level, they do not always return to their lowest energy level by jumping down one level at a time. Instead, they can transition directly from the higher energy level to the lowest energy level in a single step. This process is known as an "emission" or "radiative" transition, where the electron releases energy in the form of a photon.
However, electrons can also return to their lowest energy level through a non-radiative process called "non-radiative relaxation." In this case, instead of emitting a photon, the excited electron transfers its excess energy to the surrounding environment, such as through collisions with other particles or by emitting heat.
The specific pathway an electron takes to return to its lowest energy level depends on the atom and the circumstances of excitation.