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Atomic Spectra

What is atomic spectra?

Atomic spectra are de ned as the electromagnetic radiation emitted or absorbed by an electron during transitions between different energy level within an atom.

When an electron gets excited from one energy level to another, it either emits or absorbs light of a speci c wavelength. The collection of all these speci c
wavelengths of the atom in a given set of conditions like pressure, temperature etc is the atomic spectra of atoms. There are three types of atomic spectra and they
are emission spectra (https://byjus.com/physics/emission-spectrum/), absorption spectra and continuous spectra.

Spectral series of atomic spectra

Using the Rydberg formula, it becomes easy to calculate the spectral lines. Following is the formula:
1 2 1 1
= RZ ( − )
λ ′2 2
n n

Where,

R: Rydberg constant (1.09737*107 m-1)

Z: atomic number

n: upper energy level

n’: lower energy level

λ: wavelength of light

Spectral series of single electron atoms like hydrogen have Z = 1.

Following is the table for λ vacuum:

Series n λ (nm)
Chat now 
 Lyman series with n’=1 2 121.57

3 102.57

∞ 91.175

Pfund series with n’=5 6 7460

7 4654

∞ 2279

Humphreys series with n’=6 7 12.37

8 7.503

∞ 3.282

Following is the table for λ air:

Series n λ (nm)

Balmer series with n’=2 3 656.3

4 486.1

∞ 364.6

Paschen series or Bohr series with n’=3 4 1875

5 1282

∞ 820.4

Brackett series with n’=4 5 4051

6 2625

∞ 1458

Atomic spectroscopy
Atomic spectroscopy is the study of the electromagnetic radiation absorbed or emitted by the atoms. There are three types of atomic spectroscopy and they are:

Atomic emission spectroscopy: This involves the transfer of energy from the ground state to an excited state. The electronic transition can be explained in
atomic emission.
Atomic absorption spectroscopy: For absorption to take place there should be identical energy difference between the lower and higher energy levels.
Atomic uorescence spectroscopy: This is a combination of atomic emission and atomic absorption as it involves radiation of both excitation and de-
excitation.

Uses of atomic spectroscopy:

It is used for identifying the spectral lines of materials used in metallurgy.

It is used in pharmaceutical industries to nd the traces of materials used.
It can be used to study multi dimensional elements.

Stay tuned with BYJU’S to know more about other Physics related concepts.

Related Physics Articles:

Emission Spectrum (https://byjus.com/physics/emission-spectrum/) Electromagnetic Spectrum

(https://byjus.com/physics/introduction-to-electromagnetic-
spectrum/)

Difference Between Emission And Absorption Spectra Visible Light (https://byjus.com/physics/visible-light/)

(https://byjus.com/physics/difference-between-emission-and-absorption-spectra/)

Practise This Question

Which matching seems to be correct?

a-i, b-ii

a-ii, b-i

Both can be correct as the wavelengths missing in absorption spectrum is same as those found in  emission spectrum

Both can be correct as both the spectrum are obtained from the same gas

Submit

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Practise This Question

Which matching seems to be correct?

a-i, b-ii

a-ii, b-i

Both can be correct as the wavelengths missing in absorption spectrum is same as those found in  emission spectrum

Both can be correct as both the spectrum are obtained from the same gas

Submit