Why does white light have a continuous spectrum?
An incandescent light bulb produces a continuous spectrum because the source of the light is a metal filament (wire). A continuous spectrum emanates from the dark parts of the universe. The peak of this radiation corresponds to a temperature of about 2.7 degrees Kelvin.
Why do elements show individual emission lines?
Since every atom, element and molecule has a unique set of energy levels, the emitted photon (‘packet’ of radiation) has a discrete wavelength, and an energy equal to the difference between the initial and final energy levels. The spectrum of a material in an excited state shows emission lines at discrete frequencies.
What is the difference between continuous spectrum of white light and the atomic emission spectrum of an element?
Continuous spectrum of white light only deals with the frequencies and wavelengths of colors associated with the rainbow. Atomic emission spectrum deals with the colors, frequencies, and wavelengths that are released by a particular atom.
What is the difference between the emission spectrum of light and continuous spectrum of visible light?
What is the difference between emission spectrum and continuous spectrum? The continuous spectrum is a continuous bright region with all the wavelengths of the selected region present. An emission spectrum has only bright lines in a wide dark region corresponding to the photons absorbed and emitted by the electrons.
Why do elements have several spectral lines and not just broad emission?
Why are there multiple lines? The different ways that the electron can jump from one state to another causes the energy levels that are emitted in the form of light be different. Thus, if the energy levels are different in the light, we know that the wavelengths and frequencies are going to be different.
Why does each element have a unique spectrum?
Different types of atoms have different energy levels. As a result each produces photons with different energy and so the line spectra for different elements will be different. Continuous spectra are produced by electrons being shared between many atoms, giving a huge range of possible frequencies, as shown below.
Why do elements have more than one spectral line?
Its because, elements have electrons in orbitals. In addition there will be infinite number of empty orbitals. So when transitions occur in the atoms of an element, they absorb/release energy in the form of spectral lines.
Why do elements have different emission spectra?
Different elements have different spectra because they have different numbers of protons, and different numbers and arrangements of electrons. The differences in spectra reflect the differences in the amount of energy that the atoms absorb or give off when their electrons move between energy levels.
What is the difference between emission lines and spectral lines?
Emission lines occur when the electrons of an excited atom, element or molecule move between energy levels, returning towards the ground state. The spectral lines of a specific element or molecule at rest in a laboratory always occur at the same wavelengths.
Why do different elements exhibit different emission spectra?
Why do different elements emit different colors of light?
Heating an atom excites its electrons and they jump to higher energy levels. When the electrons return to lower energy levels, they emit energy in the form of light. Every element has a different number of electrons and a different set of energy levels. Thus, each element emits its own set of colours.
Why does each element display a unique gas phase emission spectrum?
(d) Each element displays a unique gas-phase emission spectrum. Each element has a unique set of quantized energy states for its electrons (because of its unique nuclear charge and unique electron configuration). One point is earned for describing the quantized energy states and emission phenomenon.