If you find that definition confusing, consider the following example. A continuous electromagnetic spectrum, then, includes every possible wavelength of light between the wavelength at the beginning of the list and the wavelength at the end. In the last section, you learned that an electromagnetic spectrum was a list of light arranged in order of increasing wavelength. Scientists don't use the word continuous to describe homework, but they do use it to describe electromagnetic spectra (spectra is just the plural word for spectrum). It means no gaps, no holes, and no breaks of any kind. When scientists use the word continuous, it has a similar meaning. Every time you finish one assignment, the teacher gives another, so you never get a break. You probably mean that the homework seems to be non-stop. If you have a class that requires a lot of work, you might find yourself saying something like, "I'm continuously doing homework for this class". Recognize that all elements have unique atomic spectra.Ĭontinuous Spectra Compared to Discontinuous Spectra.Recognize that white light is actually a continuous spectrum of all possible wavelengths of light.Distinguish between continuous and discontinuous spectra.To understand what light can tell us about different chemicals, though, we must first look at the electromagnetic spectrum a little more carefully. In fact, the same chemical will interact differently with differently colored beams of light. Different chemicals behave differently when struck with a beam of light. It turns out that scientists can actually learn a lot about chemicals by observing how they interact with light. What does light have to do with chemicals? Why do chemists need to know about light? Chemists are responsible for studying chemicals. Light, like matter, is part of the universe, but chemists aren't responsible for studying the entire universe. You might wonder, though, why a chemistry textbook would waste a whole lesson on light. We now know how light can act as a wave or a particle, depending on the situation. 2 Continuous Spectra Compared to Discontinuous Spectra.The color can be used to identify which elements are present in the salt. Different compounds will give off different colors of light. The color you observe in the video is the sum total of all of the visible emissions from each element.Ī common lab performed in chemistry involves flame tests of different metal salt compounds. Use of a tool such as a spectroscope would allow someone to determine the different wavelengths each of these elements is giving off. This video show uses diffraction grating to show the emission spectra of several elements including hydrogen, oxygen, neon and nitrogen. Here is a look at emission (colors of light) produced by four different elements. You can view the atomic spectrum of each element at Thus, scientists can use atomic spectra to identify the elements in them. These emission spectra are as distinctive to each element as fingerprints are to people. This collection of transitions makes up an emission spectrum. Each transition has a specific energy difference. There are many possible electron transitions for each atom. Each jump corresponds to a particular wavelength of light. When an atom absorbs energy, its electrons jump to higher energy levels.
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