if absorbtion spectrum is the spectrum that is resulted form the absorption of a particular wavelength of the incident light then, immediately after receiving the energy the atoms will tend to release the absorbed enegy so it will yeild an emmision spectrum, so how to distinguish between the both spectra formed???
2007-02-21 04:48:37 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Not always. If the absorption and re-emission always happened at the ground state you would be right but then again, there's no reason for the atom/molecule to re emit in the same direction the photon was received from. With a light source going through a gas, there is an equal probability that the light will re emit in any direction. That makes the probability of the photon coming your way just about zero.
Also, photons could be absorbed at higher states and the re emission could involve transitions to intermediate states radiating less energy than the initial photon. Then it could make one or more jumps until it gets to the ground state
2007-02-21 04:56:45 · answer #1 · answered by Gene 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, the atoms emit energy as a result of absorption, but not necessarily in the same path along which the observer looks. The emitted photons are scattered in all directions. As a result, we don't get any characteristic spectrum of this re-emitted energy. Moreover, the energy is also lost by non-radiative means, such as heat. Hence, we don't have to worry about distinguishing between the two spectra, as there is no second spectrum!
2007-02-21 16:01:35 · answer #2 · answered by vijay s 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The emission of a photon occurs at a different wavelength (or energy, or frequency - however you want to think of it) than the absorption wavelength.
2007-02-21 14:13:57 · answer #3 · answered by asgspifs 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
go to answers.com , at the search of site type spectroscopy , you get an article go through it ,it may have answers .
2007-02-21 12:54:46 · answer #4 · answered by Richard J 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋