Spectra and Energy Levels in

Atoms

© D Hoult 2011
The light from a normal filament lamp gives a
The light from a normal filament lamp gives a
continuous spectrum
The light from a normal filament lamp gives a
continuous spectrum
The light from a normal filament lamp gives a
continuous spectrum

Light from gas discharge lamps contains only

certain wavelengths. Many of the colours of light
are absent from the spectrum
The light from a normal filament lamp gives a
continuous spectrum

Light from gas discharge lamps contains only

certain wavelengths. Many of the colours of light
are absent from the spectrum

Spectra like this are called

The light from a normal filament lamp gives a
continuous spectrum

Light from gas discharge lamps contains only

certain wavelengths. Many of the colours of light
are absent from the spectrum

Spectra like this are called line spectra

The light from a normal filament lamp gives a
continuous spectrum

Light from gas discharge lamps contains only

certain wavelengths. Many of the colours of light
are absent from the spectrum

Spectra like this are called line spectra

Balmer measured the wavelengths of visible light
emitted by hydrogen atoms. He found that they
could be described by the following formula (now
called the Balmer series)
Balmer measured the wavelengths of visible light
emitted by hydrogen atoms. He found that they
could be described by the following formula (now
called the Balmer series)

1  1 1
 R 2  2 
 2 n 
To explain these observations, Bohr made the
following suggestions:
To explain these observations, Bohr made the
following suggestions:

1. Electrons in atoms can only exist

To explain these observations, Bohr made the
following suggestions:

1. Electrons in atoms can only exist with certain

“allowed” energies
To explain these observations, Bohr made the
following suggestions:

1. Electrons in atoms can only exist with certain

“allowed” energies
2. An electron can be excited from one energy
level to another by
To explain these observations, Bohr made the
following suggestions:

1. Electrons in atoms can only exist with certain

“allowed” energies
2. An electron can be excited from one energy
level to another by a collision with another
particle or by
To explain these observations, Bohr made the
following suggestions:

1. Electrons in atoms can only exist with certain

“allowed” energies
2. An electron can be excited from one energy
level to another by a collision with another
particle or by absorbing a quantum of electro-
magnetic radiation
3. When an electron falls from one energy level to
a lower level,
3. When an electron falls from one energy level to
a lower level, it emits one quantum of electro-
magnetic radiation
3. When an electron falls from one energy level to
a lower level, it emits one quantum of electro-
magnetic radiation

4. The energy possessed by the quantum is equal

to
3. When an electron falls from one energy level to
a lower level, it emits one quantum of electro-
magnetic radiation

4. The energy possessed by the quantum is equal

to the difference between the initial and final
energy levels of the electron
The lowest energy is called the
The lowest energy is called the “ground state”
Energy level diagrams
quanta in the UV region of the spectrum
quanta in the UV region of the spectrum

1 1 1
 R 2  2 
 1 n 
quanta in the UV region of the spectrum

1 1 1
 R 2  2 
 1 n 
the Lyman series
quanta in the IR region of the spectrum
quanta in the IR region of the spectrum

1  1 1
 R 2  2 
 3 n 
quanta in the IR region of the spectrum

1  1 1
 R 2  2 
 3 n 
the Paschen series