Spectra is the pattern of emergent radiation recorded on the film. Here, we will discuss about the hydrogen spectrum.
Emission and absorption spectra
- Electromagnetic spectrum consists of radiations of different wavelengths and frequencies.
- Spectroscope separates the radiations of different wavelengths.
- In spectrograph there is a use of photographic film and not telescope.
- Spectrum is the pattern of emergent radiation.
- Spectroscopy is the the branch of Science dealing with the study of spectrum.
Types of Spectra
It is broadly classified in to 2 types :
Emission spectrum
First, the radiation emitted from any source passes through the prism. Then received on photographic plate, the spectrum obtained is emission spectrum. It is mainly divided in to 2 types.
a) Continuous spectrum
First, white light from any source passes through prism. Then it splits up in to 7 different wide bands of colours from violet to indigo. The colours are so continuous that they merge in to each other. Hence, it is called as continuous spectrum.
b) Line spectrum
Let’s place some volatile substance in bunsen flame. Or an electric discharge passes through a gas at a low temperature. The light emits depending upon the nature of the substance. For example, sodium or its salts emits yellow light. Here, inspite of continuous spectrum, line spectrum is there. Photographic plate has some isolated coloured lines separated from each other by dark spaces. Each line corresponds to particular wavelength. Each spectrum has its own characteristic spectrum.
Absorption spectrum
When white light passes through the solution of a compound or a vapour of substance, and then resolved. It has dark lines are present in addition to continuous spectrum.
Check out de Broglie dual nature of matter
and the Electromagnetic wave theory here
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