emissioonispektri

Emissioonispektri refers to the collection of wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation that are emitted by a specific substance or system. When atoms or molecules are excited, they release energy in the form of photons, and the wavelengths of these photons are characteristic of the emitting species. This unique pattern of emitted wavelengths creates a distinctive fingerprint, allowing for the identification of the substance.

The process typically begins with an energy input that causes electrons in atoms or molecules to jump to higher energy levels. As these excited electrons return to their lower, more stable energy states, they emit photons of specific energies, corresponding to the differences between the energy levels. These emitted photons collectively form the emission spectrum. Different elements and molecules have unique sets of electron energy levels, resulting in unique emission spectra.

Emission spectra can be observed in various phenomena, such as the light from stars, flames, electrical discharges in gases, and even the glow of neon signs. Analyzing these spectra is a fundamental technique in spectroscopy, used in fields like astronomy for determining the composition of celestial objects, in chemistry for identifying unknown substances, and in physics for understanding atomic and molecular structure. The observed wavelengths in an emission spectrum are discrete lines, often referred to as spectral lines, each corresponding to a specific transition between energy levels.