Energy levels and photon emission

Energy levels and photon emission

1. Electrons in atoms only exist in discrete energy levels

   • Electrons may move down an energy level by the emission of a photon.
     • ΔE=E2-E1=hf=hc/ λ

2. Hot gases produce line emission spectra

   • Each line on the spectrum corresponds to a particular wavelength of light emitted by the source, since only certain energies are allowed.

3. Shining white light through a cool gas gives an absorption spectrum.

   • This continuous spectra contains all possible wavelengths.