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Describe the process of photon absorption by an atom.
An atom absorbs a photon with energy equal to the energy difference between two of its energy levels. The electron jumps to a higher energy level.
Describe the process of photon emission by an atom.
An electron drops to a lower energy level, releasing a photon with energy equal to the energy difference between the two levels.
Explain how to identify an element using its emission spectrum.
Analyze the specific frequencies (wavelengths) of light emitted. Each element has a unique emission spectrum, acting as a 'fingerprint'.
Describe how ionization occurs.
An atom absorbs energy greater than or equal to its binding energy, causing an electron to be ejected, forming an ion.
What is the first step in analyzing an unknown gas using absorption spectra?
Shine a continuous spectrum of light through the gas and observe which wavelengths are absorbed. The absorbed wavelengths correspond to the gas's absorption spectrum.
What is the effect of an electron transitioning from a higher to a lower energy level?
Emission of a photon with energy equal to the energy difference between the levels.
What is the effect of an atom absorbing a photon with the exact energy difference between two energy levels?
The electron jumps to the higher energy level.
What is the effect of an atom absorbing energy greater than its binding energy?
Ionization: an electron is ejected from the atom, creating an ion.
Cause: An element is heated. What is the effect?
Effect: The element emits light at specific frequencies, creating its emission spectrum.
Cause: White light passes through a cool gas. What is the effect?
Effect: The gas absorbs specific wavelengths, creating dark lines in the spectrum (absorption spectrum).
What happens when an electron in an atom transitions to a lower energy level?
A photon is emitted with energy equal to the energy difference.
Define a photon.
A photon is a discrete packet of light energy.
What is an atom's emission spectrum?
The specific frequencies of light an element emits when its atoms transition from higher to lower energy states.
What is an atom's absorption spectrum?
The specific frequencies of light an element absorbs when its atoms transition from lower to higher energy states.
Define binding energy.
The minimum energy required to remove an electron from an atom.
What is ionization?
The process where an electron is removed from an atom, creating an ion.
Define ground state.
The lowest energy level of an atom.