Emission spectra Flashcards
what happens when metal atoms are heated
they produce coloured light
what do flame tests show
some metallic elements can be identified by the characteristic colour produced when a sample is passed through a flame
what is the line/emission spectra
if the light from the flame test is passed through a prism, it produces a spectrum with a black background and a number of coloured lines
what is an excited state
when an atom is heated and the electron(s) absorb ennergy and jump to a higher energy level/shell
why do metals produce coloured light when heated
when the electrons return to a ground state, they release a fixed amount of energy as light
what is a ground state
the lowest energy state of an atom
what is electron configuration
the arrangement of electrons around the nucleus
