Atomic Emission Spectra and the Bohr Model

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Atomic Emission Spectrum Noun

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[uh-tom-ik i-mish-uhn spek-truhm]

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Atomic Emission Spectrum

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The unique pattern of specific wavelengths of light emitted by an element when its electrons release absorbed energy.

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Example: When atoms of an element like sodium are energized, they emit a unique pattern of colored light, which is its atomic emission spectrum.

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Wavelength Noun

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[weyv-length]

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Wavelength

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The distance between two consecutive crests of a wave, which determines the color and energy of the light.

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Example: This image shows that different colors of light have different wavelengths, with violet light having a short wavelength and red light having a long wavelength.

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Spectroscope Noun

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[spek-truh-skohp]

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Spectroscope

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An instrument that uses a prism to separate light into its individual component wavelengths, revealing its unique spectrum.

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Example: A spectroscope takes light from a source, passes it through a grating, and separates it into its different colors, revealing a unique emission spectrum for each element.

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Continuous Spectrum Noun

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[kuhn-tin-yoo-uhs spek-truhm]

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Continuous Spectrum

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A spectrum of light that contains all visible wavelengths without any gaps, appearing as an unbroken band of colors.

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Example: White light, such as sunlight, passing through a prism is split into a continuous spectrum, which contains all the colors of the rainbow with no gaps.

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Line Spectrum Noun

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[lahyn spek-truhm]

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Line Spectrum

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A spectrum of light containing only a few discrete lines of specific wavelengths, which is unique to each element.

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Example: This image shows the unique line spectrum for different elements, demonstrating that each element emits a distinct pattern of colored light when excited.

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Bohr Model Noun

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[bohr mod-l]

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Bohr Model

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A simplified atomic model where electrons are depicted as moving in circular orbits with fixed energies around the nucleus.

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Example: This diagram shows the Bohr model of an atom, with a central nucleus (protons) and electrons orbiting in specific, labeled energy shells (orbits).

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Energy Levels Noun

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[en-er-jee lev-uhlz]

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Energy Levels

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The fixed, discrete energies that an electron can possess within an atom, often represented as orbits or shells.

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Example: This diagram shows an atom's electrons orbiting the nucleus in specific paths called electron shells, which represent different energy levels.

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Quantum of Energy Noun

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[kwon-tuhm uhv en-er-jee]

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Quantum of Energy

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The specific amount of energy an electron must gain or lose to transition from one energy level to another.

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Example: When an electron in an atom drops from a higher energy level to a lower one, it releases a specific packet (a quantum) of light energy.

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Quantized Adjective

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[kwon-tahyz-d]

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Quantized

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Describing a property, like electron energy, that can only exist in certain discrete values and not in between.

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Example: This image shows that electrons in an atom can only exist in specific, discrete energy shells (like rungs on a ladder), not in between.

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Ground State Noun

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[ground steyt]

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Ground State

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The lowest possible energy level that an electron can occupy within an atom, representing its most stable condition.

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Example: This diagram shows a sodium atom with its electrons in their lowest possible energy levels, which is called the ground state.