Atomic Spectra Questions

When in an atom, an electron jumps from one energy level to another energy level, energy is emitted or absorbed in the form of electromagnetic radiation. These radiations produce spectral lines of frequencies and wavelengths associated with an atom, called atomic spectra. The atomic spectra collect all these particular wavelengths of the atom in a given set of conditions, for example, temperature, pressure, etc. Atomic spectra are classified into three types:

1. Emission spectra
2. Absorlition spectra
3. Continuous spectra

By using the Rydberg formula, we can calculate the spectral lines,

Where,

R -Rydberg constant (The value of Rydberg constant is 1.09737 x 10⁷ m^-1)

Z– Atomic number

n – Upper energy level

n’ – Lower energy level

λ – Wavelength of light

Atomic Spectroscopy

Atomic spectroscopy studies electromagnetic radiation that is absorbed or released from atoms. There are three main types of atomic spectroscopy, and they are:

1. Atomic emission spectroscopy
2. Atomic absorlition spectroscopy
3. Atomic fluorescence spectroscopy

Important Questions with Answers

1. What is meant by spectroscopy?

Spectroscopy is the branch of science used to study the different ways electromagnetic waves interact with matter.

2. What are the dark lines in a spectrum?

When we observe any dark line in a spectrum, it corresponds to specific wavelengths being missing due to absorption by the matter, which is in the form of atoms or molecules on their way. So the dark line represents the “absence of light” in a spectrum, not any particular wavelength (colour) of light.

3. Describe the types of atomic spectroscopy.

Atomic spectroscopy is classified into three main types, and they are,

a. Atomic emission spectroscopy: Atomic emission spectroscopy involves energy transfer from the ground state to an excited state. The electronic transition can be explained by atomic emission.

b. Atomic absorption spectroscopy: For absorption to occur, there should be identical energy differences between the lower and higher energy levels. According to the atomic absorption spectroscopy principle, free electrons generated in an atomizer can absorb radiation at a specific frequency. It measures the absorption of ground-state atoms in gaseous form.

c. Atomic fluorescence spectroscopy: Atomic fluorescence spectroscopy combines atomic emission and atomic absorption because it involves excitation and de-excitation radiation.

4. What is the importance of atomic spectra?

Atomic spectroscopy mainly consists of three techniques: atomic absorption spectroscopy, atomic emission spectroscopy and atomic fluorescence spectroscopy. Among these three, atomic absorption and emission spectroscopy are crucial in forensic science because they can detect even trace amounts of elements in tiny quantities of a sample.

5. Why do different elements have different spectra?

Different elements have different numbers of protons, numbers, and arrangements of electrons, so they have different spectra. Differences in spectra reflect the amount of energy absorbed or released by atoms as their electrons move between energy levels. So that’s why every element has its unique spectra.

6. What are the main differences between atomic emission and atomic absorption?

The critical difference between atomic absorption and emission is that atomic absorption describes how atoms absorb specific wavelengths from electromagnetic radiation. In contrast, atomic emission explains how atoms emit particular wavelengths.

7. Why are some spectral lines brighter than others?

Some spectral lines look brighter than others because these bright lines show that when electrons get excited, it jumps from higher energy levels to lower energy levels. When the electron jumps from a higher orbit, the energy released in the form of a photon will be more significant, and we will get a brighter line. Thus in the hydrogen spectrum, some lines are brighter than others.

8. What does the wavelength of light mean?

The wavelength of light can be defined as “The distance travelled between the two successive crests or troughs of the light wave.”

9. The study of the electromagnetic radiation absorbed or emitted by the atoms is known as___________.

1. electromagnetic radiation
2. atomic spectroscopy.
3. radiation
4. none of the above.

Answer – b. atomic Spectroscopy.

Explanation – Atomic spectroscopy is the study of the electromagnetic radiation absorbed or emitted by atoms.

10. What are the uses of atomic spectroscopy?

Atomic Spectroscopy is used to identify the spectral lines of materials used in metallurgy.

Atomic Spectroscopy is used in pharmaceutical industries to find traces of materials used.

It is also used to study multidimensional elements.

Practice Questions

1. What is the difference between emission and absorption spectra?
2. What is the electromagnetic spectrum?
3. What are atomic spectra?
4. When an atom, an electron, jumlis from one energy level to another energy level, energy is emitted or absorbed in the form of electromagnetic radiation.
1. True
2. False
5. Who introduced atomic spectra?

To learn more about Emission and Absorption Spectrum, watch the video below

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