MCAT Question of the Day
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    Q:

    		 Aurora, called the Northern Lights in the northern hemisphere, result partly from nitrogen in the upper atmosphere. The nitrogen atoms are either ionized or excited, and emit light when returning to their ground state. Depending on whether the nitrogen is ionized or excited, the colors blue or red are emitted. Which of the following accurately describes the relationship between color and energy state?
    		 

    A

    		 Ionized nitrogen returning to ground state produces red light while excited nitrogen returning to ground state emits blue light because there is a greater energy difference between ionization and ground than excitation and ground.

    B

    		 Ionized nitrogen returning to ground state produces red light while excited nitrogen returning to ground state emits blue light because there is a greater energy difference between excitation and ground than ionization and ground.

    C

    		 Ionized nitrogen returning to ground state produces blue light while excited nitrogen returning to ground state emits red light because there is a greater energy difference between excitation and ground than ionization and ground.

    D

    		 Ionized nitrogen returning to ground state produces blue light while excited nitrogen returning to ground state emits red light because there is a greater energy difference between ionization and ground than excitation and ground.



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