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In chemistry, a spectrum refers to the distribution of energy (or radiation) as a function of wavelength or frequency. Spectra are used to study the composition and structure of matter and provide information about the energies of the atoms and molecules in a sample.
- Continuous Spectrum: A continuous spectrum is a spectrum in which energy (or radiation) is distributed continuously over a range of wavelengths or frequencies. An example of a continuous spectrum is the light emitted by a hot, solid object, such as the filament of an incandescent light bulb. This light appears white because it contains all the colors of the visible spectrum.
- Line Spectrum: A line spectrum is a spectrum in which energy (or radiation) is emitted or absorbed only at specific, well-defined wavelengths or frequencies. Line spectra are produced by transitions between energy levels in atoms or molecules. For example, the light emitted by hydrogen gas when it is excited by an electric discharge produces a characteristic series of lines, known as the hydrogen emission spectrum.
- Absorption Spectrum: An absorption spectrum is a plot of the amount of light absorbed by a sample as a function of wavelength or frequency. Absorption spectra are produced when a continuous spectrum of light passes through a sample and some of the light is absorbed by the atoms or molecules in the sample. The absorption spectrum shows which wavelengths of light have been absorbed, allowing the chemical composition of the sample to be identified. Absorption spectra can be used to study the electronic and vibrational states of atoms and molecules in a sample.
Also check: Difference between Emission and Absorption Spectra
Each of these spectra provides important information about the properties of matter and can be used to study the composition and structure of a sample.
Spectrum and its Types
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