Whatever colors an element gives off, it also .....
... absorbs
Full Spectrum
Hydrogen Emission
/Absorption
Spectrum
[ Flash ]
Place your mouse over the image to
see the absorption spectra
Full Spectrum
Helium
Emission/Absorption
Spectrum
Place your mouse over the image
to
see the absorption spectra
[ Flash ]

Every Energy level
transition
creates a single spectral line

| Onsite Version |

"Science of the Silicon Solar Cell"
Don Ion

How many different spectral
lines can be produced
by an atom
with 5 energy levels?

Answer

10 Spectral Lines
10 colors
10 frequencies
10 photons
Black Body Radiation Results:
1. Only the high energy objects gave off colors on the violet side of the
spectrum
R |
O |
Y |
G |
B |
V |
 |
Low Frequency |
High Frequency |
Frequency
related to
Energy |
2. Electrons in atoms are not capable of giving off all colors (energies)
3.
Each element gives off a unique pattern of colors called a 'bright line
spectrum'.
|
This knowledge is very useful to chemists and other scientists. Why? |
Answer
1. Spectral lines used to:
To Identify an Unknown Element
- Electrify, Heat it up and analyze its colors.
- Compare emitted colors to a database of elemental spectral
lines
The diagram below represents the bright-line spectra of four elements, A, B, C,
and D, and the spectrum of an unknown gaseous sample.

Based on comparisons of these spectra,
which two elements are found
in the unknown sample?
Jan 2006

B and C

What are stars made of ?

Bohr's
Conclusions

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