Emission and Absorption Spectroscopy
- Spectroscopy is the study of electromagnetic radiation that is
either emitted or absorbed by substances.
- Emission spectroscopy is the study of EMR that is emitted from excited atoms.
- Absorption spectroscopy is the study of EMR that is absorbed by atoms, thus
exciting them.
- See here an
applet depicting the emission and absorption spectra for most of the elements.
This applet was created by the Virtual Laboratory maintained at the University
of Oregon.
- Scientists can use these spectra to determine the contents of various substances
in the lab or in the stars. Spectroscopic analysis is also used in the art
world to determine what kinds of pigments were used in a painting without
destroying the original substance. The spectra is a kind of fingerprint for
a substance. Each substance will emit or absorb a unique set of electromagnetic
waves.