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why are atomic emissions not continuous

by Micheal Breitenberg Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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This spectrum is continuous. The sodium lamp emission comes from an excited gas, and such emission will show lines characteristic of the gas. Why is line spectrum not continuous? Quick answer: Atomic spectra are continuous because the energy levels of electrons in atoms are quantized. The electrons in an atom can have only certain energy levels.

These energy levels of the electrons in atoms are quantized, meaning again that the electron must move from one energy level to another in discrete steps, rather than continuously.Apr 30, 2022

Full Answer

Why is the emission spectrum of an atom discontinuous?

This release occurs in the form of light of a specific wavelength (colour). Hence, atomic emission spectra represent the electrons returning to lower energy levels. Each packet of energy corresponds to a line in the atomic spectrum. There is nothing between each line, so the spectrum is discontinuous.

Why are atomic spectra continuous in nature?

Quick answer: Atomic spectra are continuous because the energy levels of electrons in atoms are quantized. The electrons in an atom can have only certain energy levels.

Why do atomic emission spectra represent electrons returning to lower energy levels?

When it returns to a lower level, it releases energy in a quantized packet. This release occurs in the form of light of a specific wavelength (colour). Hence, atomic emission spectra represent the electrons returning to lower energy levels.

What determines the emission spectrum of a solid?

A solid has emissions over the full spectrum. The temperature of the solid determines the peak of the spectrum. The emissions from a heated solid come from individual atoms and interactions between and among atoms of the solid. There are many vibrational modes for atomic interactions that produce the spectrum of emissions.

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Why is the emission spectrum of an element not continuous?

Each packet of energy corresponds to a line in the atomic spectrum. There is nothing between each line, so the spectrum is discontinuous.

Why does atomic emission result in a line rather than continuous spectrum?

There is an intimate connection between the atomic structure of an atom and its spectral characteristics. Atoms of individual elements emit light at only specific wavelengths, producing a line spectrum rather than the continuous spectrum of all wavelengths produced by a hot object.

Is an atomic emission spectrum a continuous spectrum?

Quick answer: Atomic spectra are continuous because the energy levels of electrons in atoms are quantized.

Why are atomic emissions unique?

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.

Why is the emission spectrum of an atom discrete?

Due to the nature of quantum physics, electrons can absorb and emit only specific, discrete energies. Every element has a characteristic arrangement of electron orbitals and energies that dictates what color the emission lines will be.

Why do we get discrete spectrum instead of continuous spectrum?

When those atoms are given energy, the electrons absorb the energy and move to a higher energy level. These energy levels of the electrons in atoms are quantized, meaning again that the electron must move from one energy level to another in discrete steps rather than continuously.

Why is the emission spectrum continuous?

A spectrum has three components: the continuum, absorption lines, and emission lines. Continuous spectra (also called thermal or blackbody spectra) arise from dense gases or solid objects which radiate heat. They emit radiation over a broad range of wavelengths, thus the spectra appear smooth and continuous.

Are atoms continuous or discrete?

In the simplest case, atomic energy levels for free atoms are discrete when the electron is bound and its energy is negative. If however the electron is not bound, its energy is positive and can take continuous values.

How does atomic spectrum differ from continuous spectrum?

The main difference between continuous spectrum and line spectrum is that line spectra can be seen as either isolated emission lines or absorption lines, with huge gaps between them, whereas continuous spectra do not contain gaps and can be produced by superimposing the emission and absorption spectra of the same ...

What is the difference between continuous and discontinuous spectrum?

A continuous spectrum contains every wavelength between the wavelength on which the spectrum starts and the wavelength on which the spectrum ends. A discontinuous spectrum is a spectrum that contains gaps, holes, or breaks in terms of the wavelengths that it contains.

How are the continuous electromagnetic spectrum and atomic emission spectra the same?

0:031:322.3.2 Distinguish between a continuous spectrum and a line ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf we compare a continuous spectrum which shows all the frequencies of visible light then anMoreIf we compare a continuous spectrum which shows all the frequencies of visible light then an emission spectrum. Shows only certain frequencies of visible light. And finally we look at the absorption.

Why does each element have its own unique emission spectrum?

There are many possible electron transitions for each atom, and each transition has a specific energy difference. This collection of different transitions, leading to different radiated wavelengths, make up an emission spectrum. Each element's emission spectrum is unique.

What is the difference between a discrete and continuous spectrum?

Stated briefly, the continuous part of the energy spectrum is associated with black body radiation, by which is meant the thermal radiation emitted by a cavity at a very high fixed temperature, whereas the discrete spectrum is associated with atomic electron transitions from a bound state energy level to another.

Who first proposed the idea that energy is quantised?

However, the idea that energy is quantised was first proposed by Einstein, although Planck had shown that it is action that is quantised.

Is Planck's constant a continuous curve?

Planck's constant resulted in an explanation that has withstood over a century of experimentation. Black body radiation is modeled by a continuous curve, but the model is not the process. This is the answer to the original question. Planck's equation is the model not the process.

Is the atomic spectrum discrete?

An atomic spectrum is also obtained from excited atoms but is discrete. could anyone please explain the difference between the two. Would the atomic spectrum turn into blackbody spectrum under any circumstance. Black Body Radiation. Atmospheric Radiation.

Is blackbody radiation continuous?

I think that the answer is that blackbody radiation is a form of Bremsstralung (braking radiation.) Bremsstralung also produces a continuous spectrum because it is produced by a continuous process. As an electron approaches the positive nucleus of an atom it loses kinetic energy in a continuous fashion.

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1.Why are atomic spectra of an element discontinuous?

Url:https://socratic.org/questions/why-are-atomic-spectra-of-an-element-discontinuous

21 hours ago Why in the atomic emission spectra are there only discrete lines not a continuous range of colors? Due to the nature of quantum physics, electrons can absorb and emit only specific, discrete …

2.Why does black body radiation have a continuous …

Url:https://www.researchgate.net/post/Why-does-black-body-radiation-have-a-continuous-spectrum-while-atomic-emissions-have-discrete-spectrum

32 hours ago Regarding this, what is the difference between emission absorption and continuous spectrum? The difference between absorption and emission spectra are that absorption lines are where …

3.Why is the emission of a hydrogen atom a line spectrum?

Url:https://www.quora.com/Why-is-the-emission-of-a-hydrogen-atom-a-line-spectrum

20 hours ago Quick answer: Atomic spectra are continuous because the energy levels of electrons in atoms are quantized. The electrons in an atom can have only certain energy levels. The electrons in an …

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