Investigate how spectroscopy can be used to provide information about the identification of elements

Investigate how spectroscopy can be used to provide information about the identification of elements

Spectroscopy is the analysis of electromagnetic spectrum

Atomic spectroscopy , is the analysis of absorption spectrum and emission spectrum of an atom

  • These spectrums are due to electronic transitions of outer shell electrons as they rise and fall from one electron orbit to another.
  • These electronic transitions release energy in the form of electromagnetic waves with distinct frequencies.
  • Atoms have distinct x-ray spectra that are attributable to the excitation of inner shell electrons to excited states.
  • Atoms of different elements have different spectra and therefore atomic spectroscopy allows for the identification and quantitation of a sample’s elemental composition
  • Emission spectra are produced when electrons of atoms drop down to a lower energy level, after first being excited to a higher level, and release photons of a particular frequency
  • An absorption spectra of an element is the negative of the emission spectra for the same element.

Example of Hydrogen Emission Spectrum (in visible region of EM waves)

Emission_spectrum-H_labeled

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Extract from Physics Stage 6 Syllabus © 2017 NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA)