Emission spectrum

Emission Spectrum

The Emission Spectrum (pronounced: e-mish-un spek-trum) is a unique spectrum of light, including visible light, produced and emitted by an atom or molecule that has absorbed energy and moved to a more energetic state. The term originates from the Latin word "emissio" meaning "a sending out" and the Latin word "spectrum" meaning "appearance" or "image".

Description

An Emission spectrum is the range or array of wavelengths, or frequencies, of light emitted by an atom or molecule that has absorbed energy and moved to a more energetic state. This spectrum is unique to each element and can be used to identify the element's presence in an unknown sample. The spectrum is produced when the atoms or molecules return to their ground state, releasing the absorbed energy as light.

Types of Emission Spectra

There are two main types of emission spectra: Continuous spectrum and Line spectrum. A continuous spectrum is produced when an incandescent solid, liquid, or high-pressure gas emits light of all wavelengths, resulting in a smooth transition of colors without any spectral lines. On the other hand, a line spectrum, also known as an atomic or emission line spectrum, is produced when a low-pressure gas emits light of specific wavelengths, resulting in distinct lines of color against a dark background.

Applications

Emission spectra are widely used in various fields such as Astrophysics, Chemistry, and Spectroscopy. In astrophysics, they are used to determine the composition of distant stars and galaxies. In chemistry, they are used to identify elements in a sample. In spectroscopy, they are used to study the interaction between matter and radiated energy.

See Also

• Absorption spectrum
• Spectral line
• Spectroscopy
• Atomic spectral line
• Hydrogen spectral series

References

• Spectroscopy
• Atomic physics
• Quantum mechanics

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Emission spectrum
• Wikipedia's article - Emission spectrum

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