Balmer Formula

Johann Jakob Balmer, realized that there was a regularity in the wavelengths of the spectral lines of hydrogen. They obeyed a simple relationship which became known as the Balmer formula (empirical formula, with no theoretical justification, Bohr atom).):

\[\frac 1\lambda =R(\frac 1{2^2}-\frac 1{n^2})\]

Where:

• The constant R is called the Rydberg constant, and its value is given by 1/R = 91.17636 nm.
• The quantity n is any integer greater than two. n takes falues 3, 4, . . ., and gives the wavelengths for the visible hydrogen lines (also known as the Balmer series).