1.3.3

Absorption & Emission Spectra

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Electromagnetic Radiation

Electromagnetic radiation is a continuous spectrum of waves with different energies.

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The electromagnetic spectrum

  • As the energy of waves changes across the electromagnetic spectrum so do both the frequency (𝜈) and wavelength (Ξ»).
  • Visible light makes up a small part of this spectrum.
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Frequency and wavelength

  • The frequency (𝜈) and wavelength (Ξ»).of a wave are related by the following formula:
    • c = 𝜈λ
  • c is the speed of light.
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Wave energy

  • Frequency (𝜈) is multiplied by Planck’s constant (h) to give the energy (E) of the wave:
    • E = h𝜈
  • h = 6.63 Γ— 10βˆ’34 Js

Absorption Spectra

Each element has a characteristic absorption spectrum depending on its electronic configuration.

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Electron excitation

  • When electromagnetic radiation is passed through a sample of gaseous atoms, specific energies of radiation are absorbed and cause electrons to be promoted (excited) to higher energy levels.
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Absorption spectrum

  • This produces an absorption spectrum and the frequencies of radiation that correspond to the energy gap for electrons to be excited are missing from the continuous spectrum.
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Absorption spectra are unique

  • The energy of an absorbed photon is the same as the energy gap for the electron excitation and this can be calculated from its frequency by using the following formula:
    • Ξ”Eelectron = h𝜈
  • Each element has its own characteristic absorption spectrum as each element has a unique electron configuration.

Emission Spectra

Each element has a characteristic emission spectrum depending on its electron configuration.

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Emission spectra

  • After excitation, electrons can then relax back to lower energy levels to produce an emission spectrum.
  • The emission lines occur at the same frequencies as the absorption lines in the absorption spectrum as the energy gaps for electrons to move are the same.
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Balmer series

  • Electrons that fall back to n = 2 correspond to transitions that release visible light and make up the Balmer series.
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Significance

  • The line emission spectrum gives us evidence for the Bohr model of an atom.
  • The emission spectrum of hydrogen provides evidence for the existence of electrons in discrete energy levels.
  • At high energy, lines start to become closer together and are said to converge. Energy levels converge at n = ∞ and when an electron reaches this level the atom has been ionised.

Jump to other topics

1Structure - Models of the Particulate of Matter

2Structure - Models of Bonding & Structure

3Structure - Classification of Matter

3.1The Periodic Table: Classification of Elements

3.2Periodic Trends

3.3Group 1 Alkali Metals

3.4Halogens

3.5Noble gases, group 18

3.6Functional Groups: Classification of Organic

3.7Functional Group Chemistry

3.8Alkanes

3.9Alcohols

3.10Halogenoalkanes

4Reactivity - What Drives Chemical Reaction?

5Reactivity - How Much, How Fast & How Far?

6Reactivity - The Mechanisms of Chemical Change

7Measurement, Data Processing & Analysis

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