The emission spectrum of hydrogen consists of
- A. a continuous band of all wavelengths
- B. a set of sharp, discrete lines at fixed wavelengths
- C. a single wavelength only
- D. no radiation at all
Explanation
A line spectrum arises because the electron can occupy only certain energy levels, so only certain energy differences, and therefore only certain photon frequencies, are possible. A hot solid gives a continuous spectrum instead, because its atoms interact strongly. Every element has its own line pattern, which is why spectra identify elements in stars.
Related questions
The energy of the electron in the ground state of a hydrogen atom is
The Balmer series of hydrogen lines lies in the visible region because all its transitions end at
The Lyman series of hydrogen appears in which region of the spectrum?
Bohr postulated that the angular momentum of an electron in an allowed orbit is
An absorption spectrum is produced when