difference between emission and absorption spectrum

The Difference Between Emission and Absorption Spectrum

What is Spectrum?

Spectrum refers to the different colors of light that can be seen when white light is passed through a prism. It is used to describe the range of colors that make up visible light.

What is Emission Spectrum?

An emission spectrum is a pattern of colored lines that are produced when an element is heated in a flame or an electric arc. This phenomenon is called spectral emission. The emission spectrum is a unique fingerprint of each element or compound.

When an atom is excited to a higher energy level, it emits light or electromagnetic radiation as it returns to its ground state. The energy of the emitted light is specific to the element in question, causing it to produce a distinctive line spectrum.

What is Absorption Spectrum?

An absorption spectrum is the opposite of an emission spectrum. It is a pattern of dark lines or bands that occurs when white light passes through a colored gas, liquid or solid.

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Each chemical element or compound absorbs certain wavelengths of light, causing dark lines to appear in the spectrum. These lines are called absorption lines or Fraunhofer lines.

Absorption spectra can be used to determine the identity of an unknown substance, the concentration of a known substance or the atomic structure of a material.

The Difference Between Emission and Absorption Spectrum

The main difference between emission and absorption spectra lies in the direction of the light being emitted or absorbed.

In the emission spectrum, light is released from an excited state to a lower energy state. The emitted wavelengths are characteristic of the element or compound emitting them.

In the absorption spectrum, light is absorbed by an element or compound causing the absence of certain wavelengths. Absorption spectra are used to identify the atomic structure of a material.

In conclusion, both emission and absorption spectra provide valuable information for scientists to identify and study the properties of different elements and compounds. The emission spectrum is useful for analyzing a material’s atomic structure, while absorption spectra can be used to identify unknown substances or determine the concentration of a known substance.

Table difference between emission and absorption spectrum

Emission Spectrum Absorption Spectrum
Definition A collection of wavelengths of light emitted by a substance when it is excited. A collection of wavelengths of light absorbed by a substance when it is illuminated.
Process Atoms in a substance are excited and as they return to their ground state, they emit energy in the form of light, which is characterized by a specific wavelength. Energy from an external light source is absorbed by the substance, which causes the electrons in the atoms to become excited and jump to higher energy levels. As they return to their ground state, they absorb energy from specific wavelengths of light, which leads to dark lines in the spectrum.
Characteristics Consists of bright lines or bands of color against a dark background. Consists of dark lines or bands against a continuous spectrum of light.
Application Used to identify the chemical composition of substances, such as stars or gases. Used to identify the presence of certain substances in a sample or to determine the chemical composition of a substance.