Energy Levels & Photon

Emission
Introduction
When white light from a tungsten filament is passed through a prism,
the light is dispersed into its component colours, as illustrated
in Figure 1. The band of different colours is called a continuous
spectrum.

Figure 1: Continuous Spectrum

A. Emission Spectrum

In the experiment shown in Figure 1, the resultant colour and

wavelength limits are violet (about 400 nm) and red (about 700 nm).

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 Since the spectrum is produced by the emission of light from the
tungsten filament lamp, it is called an emission spectrum.

B. Line Spectrum

A discharge tube is a transparent tube containing a gas at low

pressure. When a high potential difference is applied across two
electrodes in the tube, light is emitted. Examination of the light with a
diffraction grating shows that the emitted spectrum is no longer
continuous, but consists of a number of bright lines as shown in Figure
2. Such a spectrum is called a line spectrum. It consists of a number
of separate colours, with each colour being seen as the image of the
slit from the source. The wavelength corresponding to the lines of the
spectrum are characteristics of the gas, which is in the discharge tube.

Figure 2: Example Line Spectrum

C. Electron Energy Levels

Electrons in an atom can have only certain specific energies. These

energies are called electron energy levels. They can be represented
as a series of lines against vertical energy, as illustrated in Figure 3.
For example, the electron in the hydrogen atom can have any of these
energy values, but cannot have energies between them.

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 Figure 3: Electron Energy Levels of the Hydrogen Atom

Normally, electrons occupy the lowest energy levels available. Under

these conditions, the atom and its electrons are said to be in the
ground state. If the electron absorbs energy, it may be promoted to a
higher energy level. Under these conditions, the atom is described as
being in an excited state. An excited atom is unstable. After a short
time, the excited electron will return to a lower energy level. To
achieve this transition, the electron loses energy by emitting a photon
of electromagnetic radiation. This movement of an electron between
energy levels is called an electron transition.

Downward transition from higher energy levels to lower energy levels

results in the emission of photons. The atom can be raised to an
excited state by the absorption of a photon.

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 The energy (hf) of the photon is given by,

Where,

E1 – Energy of the higher level.

E2 – Energy of the lower level.

h – Plank constant (6.63 x 10-34 J s).

If there is a relation between the speed of light, frequency and

wavelength, the wavelength of the emitted radiation is given by,

D. Continuous spectrum

The light emitted by atoms in a solid, a liquid or a gas at high pressure

produces a continuous spectrum. This happens because of the
proximity of the atoms to each other. Interaction between the atoms
results in a broadening of the electron of the electron energy levels.
Subsequently, transitions of a wide range of magnitudes of energy are
possible, and light of a broad spread of wavelengths may be emitted.
This is seen as a continuous spectrum.

E. Absorption spectrum

When white light passes through a low-pressure gas and the spectrum
of the white light is then analysed, it is found that light of certain
wavelengths are missing. In those places, dark lines are formed. This
type of spectrum is called an absorption spectrum.

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 As the white light passes through the gas, some electrons absorb
energy and make transitions to higher energy levels. The wavelengths
of the light they absorb correspond exactly to the energies needed to
make the particular upward transitions. When these electrons return to
lower levels, the photons are emitted in all directions, rather than the
original direction of the white light. Thus, some wavelengths appear to
be missing. It follows that the wavelengths missing from an absorption
spectrum are those present in the emission spectrum of the same
element. This is illustrated in the following figure.

Figure 4: Absorption Spectrum and Emission Spectrum

F. Summary

 If a spectrum is produced by the emission of light from a light

source (tungsten filament lamp), it is called an emission
spectrum.
 Electrons in an atom can have only certain specific energies.
These energies are called electron energy levels.
 Downward transition from higher energy levels to lower energy
levels results in the emission of photons. The atom can be
raised to an excited state by the absorption of a photon.
 The light emitted by atoms in a solid, a liquid or a gas at high
pressure produces a continuous spectrum.
 When white light passes through a low-pressure gas, light of
certain wavelengths will be lost. In those places, dark lines are
formed. This type of spectrum is called an absorption
spectrum.

MUHAMMAD RIZWAN SIDDIQI (ONLINE TUTOR) CONTACT: +923323388218

MUHAMMAD RIZWAN SIDDIQI (ONLINE TUTOR) CONTACT: +923323388218