Line Emission Spectrum of Hydrogen

Emission vs. Absorption Spectrum

• Emission spectrum: Formed when atoms emit radiation upon absorbing energy. Electrons jump to higher levels, then fall back, emitting photons. Arranged in increasing order of wavelength (decreasing frequency). \[\Delta E=E_{n_2}-E_{n_1},\] where n₂ > n_1​.

• Absorption spectrum: Formed when atoms absorb specific wavelengths of radiation. Arranged in increasing order of wavelength. \[\Delta E=E_{n_2}-E_{n_1},\] where n₂ < n₁​.

Spectral Series of Hydrogen

Each series corresponds to electron transitions ending at a particular energy level:

When an electron jumps from level n_2​ to level n₁​:

\[\text{Number of emission lines}=\frac{(n_2-n_1)(n_2-n_1+1)}{2}\]