FOUNDATIONS OF SPECTROSCOPY

ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION RULER: THE ER RULER

Energy Level Transition

Energy

Wavelength

Joules

nm

10-27
Nuclear and electron spin

10-26
10-

2
4
6

RF

6
4
2

109
Wavelength
10

10-23

106

10-21
IR

10-20

Middle-shell electrons

10-

104
103
VIS

18

10-17

UV

10
1

10-15

10-2

10-13

10-3

10-12

10-4

10-11
10-10

600 nm

550 nm

6
4
2

2
4
6
8

500 nm

450 nm

10-1

10-14

Nuclear

650 nm

102

10-16
Inner-shell electrons

700 nm

105

10-19
Valence electrons

107

10-22

Molecular vibrations

1010

25

10-24
Molecular rotations

Planks constant, h = 6.63 x 10-34 J s.

The speed of light, c = 3.0 x 108 m s-1.

10-5
10-6

400 nm

RF = Radio frequency radiation

W = Microwave radiation
IR = Infrared radiation
VIS = Visible light radiation
UV = Ultraviolet radiation
X = X-ray radiation
= gamma ray radiation