Lawz Elite Education Center Prepared by Jason Fung

Spectrum and energy level

1.1 Types of spectrum

 Electromagnetic radiation can be spread into a spectrum by using a prism or

diffraction grating according to wavelength
 It provides a way for us to analyze the electromagnetic radiation.

(i) Continuous spectrum

 A continuous spectrum of visible light consists of all colors

 It can be produced from all incandescent solid and liquid, and from excited gases
under high pressure
 Examples: Sun, bulb filament, red-hot metals in solid or melting state

(ii) Emission line spectrum

 An emission line spectrum only consists of light of certain frequencies

 A gas discharge tube which contains a pure gas under low pressure can be
excited to produce emission line spectrum.
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(iii) Absorption spectrum

 An absorption spectrum consists of dark lines superimposed on a continuous

spectrum
 It is produced when a beam of white light passes through a gas under low
pressure and at low temperature

 The absorption and re-emission of light in all directions result in a significant

decrease in light intensity of those frequencies. Therefore, dark lines of certain
frequencies are observed.

1.2 Existence of discrete energy levels

Emission line spectrum and absorption spectrum are consistent.

 The discrete spectral lines shows that only certain frequencies of light can be
absorbed or emitted.

Emission line spectrum  Caused by (absorption/ emission) of light

Absorption spectrum  Caused by (absorption/ emission) of light

 Since the energy of photon is related to frequency, the discrete spectral lines
suggest that an atom has discrete energy levels.
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(i) Uniqueness of a set of energy levels

Composition of Sun’s atmosphere can be known by analyzing spectrum

 Different atom has different unique set of energy levels. Therefore, spectral lines
can be used to identify the composition of a substance.

Chemical composition of the invisible clouds is obtained by analyzing the atomic

spectra.
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2.1Transition of energy level

 An atom consists of infinitely many discrete energy levels. The lowest energy
level 𝐸𝐸1 is called ground state of the atom.
 Energy level higher than the ground state is called excited state.

Photon is absorbed Photon is emitted

 Radiation is absorbed or emitted in the form of a photo when transition of atomic
energy level occurs
 Emission or absorption of light is caused by a transition of energy level:

From higher to lower energy level  Photon is emitted

From lower to higher energy level  Photon is absorbed

 One photon is absorbed or emitted for each transition.

 By conservation of energy, the energy of the photon released MUST be equal to
the difference in energy levels.

ℎ𝑓𝑓 = 𝐸𝐸𝑛𝑛 − 𝐸𝐸𝑚𝑚

where 𝑛𝑛 > 𝑚𝑚.

 If the energy of a photon does NOT match the energy difference, emission or
absorption of that photon is not allowed.
 Since the energy difference can only takes certain values only, only certain
frequencies of light can be emitted or absorbed, which explains the formation of
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emission line spectrum and absorption spectrum.

 This formula provides a way to determine the wavelength and thus the type of light
emitted/ absorbed.

2.2Energy level in a hydrogen atom

Energy level diagram of hydrogen atom.

 The energy levels of an atom are discrete, i.e. they only takes certain values.
 The energy level for a hydrogen atom is

−13.6 𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒
𝐸𝐸𝑛𝑛 =
𝑛𝑛2

 Negative energy means that the electron is bound to the nucleus by an attractive
force. Therefore, work must be done to remove the electron to infinity.
 The possible energies can be represented by using an energy level diagram.
 Energy of an atom = kinetic energy of electrons + electric potential energy of
electrons and nucleus

Ground state (𝑛𝑛 = 1)  Lowest energy state

 Most stable
Excited state (𝑛𝑛 = 2, 3, ∞)  Higher energy state
 𝑛𝑛 = 2 is called first excited state, 𝑛𝑛 = 3 is
called second excited state and so on.
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(i) Possible ways of transition of energy level

 At a higher energy state, an atom becomes unstable. Therefore, it tends to emit

photon to lower its energy.
 Possible transitions:

Method 1  The electron can transit to the ground state directly

Method 2  The electron can transit to some lower energy state first, and
then to the ground state, i.e. multiple transitions

 The energy required for an atom to transit to a higher energy level is called
excitation energy, which is equal to the energy difference 𝐸𝐸𝑛𝑛 − 𝐸𝐸𝑚𝑚 .

1 1
𝐸𝐸𝑛𝑛 − 𝐸𝐸𝑚𝑚 = −13.6 𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 ( − )
𝑛𝑛2 𝑚𝑚2

 Energy is needed to ionize an atom. The energy required is called ionization

energy, which is the energy required to excite an atom to the highest energy level
(𝑛𝑛 = ∞)
𝐸𝐸𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 = 𝐸𝐸∞ − 𝐸𝐸𝑛𝑛
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(ii) Spectral line series

 The range of wavelength emitted in a hydrogen spectral series is determined by

the final energy level

Lyman series Maximum wavelength =

(fall to 𝑛𝑛 = 1)

Minimum wavelength =

Balmer series Maximum wavelength =

(fall to 𝑛𝑛 = 2)

Minimum wavelength =

Paschen series Maximum wavelength =

(fall to 𝑛𝑛 = 3)

Minimum wavelength =

(You don’t need to memorize the name of these series)

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(iii) Methods of exciting an atom to higher energy level
Collide an atom with a moving electron
Illuminate an atom with radiation
Raising the temperature
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 If the energy of the electron is less
than the excitation energy, the
electron will leave without losing
energy (elastic collision)
 If the energy of the electron is
higher than the excitation energy,
the electron will lose energy. The
energy lost by the electron is equal
to the energy gap (inelastic
collision)
 The energy of the photon must
match the energy gap. Otherwise, it
will not be absorbed.
 The atom will be excited due to
thermal excitation.