Question

What can happen to an electron when sunlight hits it? select all that apply. select all that apply. it can drop down to a lower electron shell. it can move out to a higher electron shell. it can collide with the nucleus. it can stay in its original shell?

Answer 1

An electron gains energy when powered by solar energy, so the first option of it dropping to a lower electron shell isn't possible. It can however, move out to a higher electron shell. It cannot collide with the nucleus, nor would it remain in its original shell, as it has gained energy. 

Answer 2

There are two possible answers:
- it can move out to a higher electron shell
-  it can stay in its original shell

In fact, sunlight consists of photons. When sunlight hits an electron, the electron can absorbs a photon, so it gains energy: as a result, the electron can move to a higher electron shell, which corresponds to a high energy level in the atom, if the energy given by the photon is at least equal to the energy difference between the two levels. However, if the photon energy is not large enough, the electron will stay in the same shell.