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Why does sodium vapor emit only certain frequencies of visible light?
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
It is because the electrons surrounding an atom, say sodium, can only exist at certain energy levels. When a photon (packet of light energy) hits an orbiting electron it only gives energy to that electron if the energy of the photon is exactly enough to move the electron to a higher energy level, if not it doesn't effect the electron. As the energy of a photon is directly proportional to the it wavelength, only certain wavelengths affect an atom's electrons. When they do effect the electrons the photon is absorbed, giving the absorption spectrum.
Emission spectra are the reverse of this process, when an electron cascades back down to its lowest possible energy state after this photon interaction it gives out certain frequencies of light. The energy of this light will be equal to the energy absorbed, so the photons emitted will be equal to the photons absorbed which is why emission spectra look like the inverse of an absorption spectrum.
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
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Explain the difference between the continuous spectrum of white light and the atomic emission spectrum of an element?
The difference between continuous spectrum and the atomic emission espectrum of an element is that in emission spectrum, only certain specific frequencies of light are emitted while in a continuous spectrum, a continuous range of colors are seen in the visible light.
Why is visible light given off when a salt such as sodium chloride is exposed to a flame?
excited electrons returning to the ground state.
Why are certain colors absorbed into some objects but not others?
colors are different frequencies of light. atoms in objects vibrate in specific frequencies too. objects with atoms vibrating in the frequency corresponding to the color absorb that color and reflect the other frequencies they can't absorb. the color of an object is basically the frequency of light that it can't absorb.
Why sodium give a flame test?
Its electrons are excited to a higher energy state in the flame, and then they immediately release that energy, which is visible as yellow light.
Why is nitrogen oxide colourless while nitrogen dioxide is brown in colour?
It all depends on the frequencies of light the compounds reflect and absorb. The color you see is reflected light at a certain frequency(corresponding to a combination of certain colors in the electromagnetic spectrum), while the rest is absorbed. For example, the Nitrogen Oxide molecule absorb light at a frequency out of the visible range, and reflect all colors we can see. That is why we see that Nitrogen gas is a white gas(if the gas if concentrated enough). As for nitrogen dioxide, the molecules absorb a certain color. All the other colors are reflected as a brown color.
The color of light is determined by of the light waves.?
The cones in the retina of our eyes are sensitive to certain frequencies of light within the visible light spectrum (ROYGBIV). Light waves with longer wavelengths (within the visible range of frequencies) are perceived to be on the red, orange, yellow side of the spectrum, while higher frequencies/shorter wavelengths of light appear blue or violet.
What radiation lies at frequencies just blow the frequencies of visible light?
infrared
How do you perceive the different frequencies of light waves?
Different frequencies of visible light are perceived as different colors.
What would happen if the light from a star passes through a cool cloud of sodium gas?
The gas absorbs certain frequencies of light, producing an absorption spectrum.
Is visible light used for photosynthesis?
Yes,visible light is used. Frequencies of blue and red absorbed effectively
White light is a combination of electromagnetic waves with frequencies from what?
the range of visible light.
When light from all frequencies of the visible range are combined what is the result?
white light
What kind of light does white light contain?
A mixture of all the visible frequencies.
What is the difference between the colours of visible light?
their wavelengths (frequencies)
Why does black absorb sunlight?
Bonds in molecules absorb light, In black the bonds absorb a lot of visible light frequencies. As black only reflects few frequencies of visible light. it gains it black colour.
The highest frequencies of visible light as interpreted by the brain appear?
Violet
Absorbs all frequencies of visible light?
Any black object or surface.
