Atomic emission spectra Transitional Reasoning Download PDF

Questions

1. 1.

   An analytical chemist passes the light emitted from an electrically excited gas discharge tube through a prism, observing several sharp, brightly colored lines separated by dark regions rather than a continuous rainbow. To interpret this observation, the chemist analyzes the relationship between the observed photons and the electronic structure of the atom. Which statement correctly explains the origin of these discrete emission lines?

   • A) Photons of discrete frequencies are emitted when electrons drop from specific higher energy levels to lower energy levels, demonstrating that electronic energy states are quantized.
   • B) Photons are absorbed continuously across a broad spectrum as ground-state electrons oscillate within their fixed orbits without changing shells.
   • C) Kinetic energy is released as visible radiation whenever free electrons collide with each other within the same subshell.
   • D) Protons inside the atomic nucleus undergo transitions between discrete nuclear states, emitting radiation in the visible region.