l>Spectroscopy - Atoms and Light

Atoms and also Light

Energy Levels

Surrounding a cell nucleus of an atom are energy levels that the electrons occupy. One electron have to reside in one of these levels, not in between them. They begin filling the lowest power levels first, those closest come the nucleus, and also continue away from the nucleus filling higher energy levels. We often display these power levels together concentric circles approximately the nucleus of an atom. This is not a representation of the physical ar of the electron in the atom. It to represent the average energy of the electron in a provided level.When all of the electrons are in the lowest state possible we say that the atom is in its floor state. Once they are not in the lowest possible energy level, we say the atom is in an excited state.

You are watching: When an atom absorbs energy the electrons move from their

*

Absorption and also Emission

An atom alters from a ground state come an excited state by acquisition on power from its surroundings in a process called absorption. The electron absorbs the energy and also jumps come a greater energy level. In the turning back process, emission, the electron returns to the ground state by releasing the extra energy it absorbed.
*
Recall that the electrons have to occupy one of the power levels. To cause a change between the levels calls for an amount of power exactly equal to the power difference between the two levels. This has a profound effect on the absorption and emission spectra of one element. Due to the fact that the atom can only absorb details amounts of energy, only particular wavelengths of light will be absorbed. Note the 2 dark present in the top section of the figure below. White light to be shined top top a gas sample the atoms. The atom only took in at the 2 wavelengths (the two dark present at around 590 nm) due to the fact that this synchronized to the difference between two power levels. The result of this absorption was an atom in one excited state.
*
The excited state atom ultimately returns to the floor state. The does this by create radiation. The spectrum the the emitted light is displayed in the bottom section of the figure.

See more: Ep-1 What Should You Do If You Suddenly Find Yourself In Cold Water?

Note two bright lines show up at specifically the very same wavelength as the light the was absorbed.The most studied atom is the hydrogen atom.
*
*
*
*
introductionbackgroundpracticalitiesexperimentpostlab