How do atoms emit light

Feb 21, Explanation: The electrons in an atom can only occupy certain allowed energy levels. Related questions Does gravitational force get weaker with distance?

How strong is gravitational force? How does cosmic background radiation change the universe? How does gravity affect the universe? What does red shift mean? When looking at a spectrum of light from a star, how can we tell that the light has undergone What is redshift and blueshift? For hydrogen, the energy to bump up an electron from its first to its second electron shell comes only from light with a wavelength of x 10 m see here for how to calculate.

However, the energy absorbed and released when the electron moves between the second and fourth shells is x 10 m, which is in the visible range. Since this emission signature is unique for each element, looking at the colors of other stars, or the tops of the atmospheres of other planets, is a good way of identifying the elements in them.

You can also do flame tests to identify different elements. The wavelength of light emitted for the movement of an electron between the electron shells of a hydrogen atom is given by the Rydberg formula :. You must be logged in to post a comment. Skip to content Emission and absorption spectrum of Hydrogen. Image adapted from the one by Wikimedia Commons User:Adrignola. About Coe College. Contact Information.

Light Properties. Electromagnetic Spectrum. Emission and Absorption. Field Spectroscopy. Photoelectric Effect. Field Spectroscopy First Draft. Greenhouse Gases. Lewis Dot Structures. Polarity, Dipoles, and Bonds. Molecular Shapes. Molecular Vibrations. Gapminder Statistics - BMI. Oxidation-Reduction Reactions. Atoms and molecules can absorb and emit light, telling us how many different energy levels an electron has and how far apart the energy levels are spaced.