What type of spectrum is produced by a hydrogen gas when a high potential difference is applied to it?
a visible spectrum
emission spectrum
absorption spectrum
a continuous spectrum
I've been all through my notes and cant figure this one out :/
12 years ago
12 years ago
That doesn't help me beytotch
1 year ago
To determine the type of spectrum produced by a hydrogen gas when a high potential difference is applied to it, we can go through the options and eliminate the incorrect ones.
1. A visible spectrum: This option is vague because all spectra, except for completely dark spectra, are visible. So, we can eliminate this option.
2. Emission spectrum: When a high potential difference is applied to a hydrogen gas, it excites the gas atoms, causing the electrons to transition from a higher energy level to a lower energy level, releasing energy in the form of light. This emitted light is known as an emission spectrum. Therefore, this option is correct.
3. Absorption spectrum: An absorption spectrum is produced when a substance absorbs specific wavelengths of light from a continuous spectrum. However, in this case, we are applying a high potential difference, which causes the hydrogen gas to emit light rather than absorb it. Therefore, we can eliminate this option.
4. A continuous spectrum: A continuous spectrum consists of an uninterrupted range of wavelengths. In the case of a hydrogen gas with a high potential difference, it produces specific bright lines of light, rather than a continuous range of wavelengths. Hence, we can eliminate this option.
Therefore, the correct answer is an "emission spectrum."