Emission Spectra

Atoms, ions, and molecules can be excited to one or more higher energy levels by any of several processes: 1. bombardment with electrons or other elementary particles 2. exposure to high-temperature plasma, flame or electric arc 3. exposure to a source of electromagnetic radiation The lifetime of an excited species is generally transitory (10-9 to 10-6 s), and relaxation to a lower energy level or the ground state takes place with a release of the excess energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation, heat or perhaps both. Radiation from a source is conveniently characterized by means of an emission spectrum, which usually takes the form of a plot of the relative power of the emitted radiation as a function of wavelength or frequency. There are three types of emission spectra 1. line spectra 2. band spectra 3. continuum spectra

Emission spectrum of Hydrogen

Emission spectrum of Iron Line spectra Line spectra occur when the radiating species are individual atomic particles that are well separated, as in a gas. The individual particles in a gaseous medium behave independently of one another, and the spectrum in most cases consists of a series of sharp lines with widths of 10-2 to 10-3 nm. Band spectra Band spectra are often produced in spectral sources because of the presence of gaseous radicals or small molecules. An emission band spectrum is made up of many closely spaced lines that are difficult to resolve. Bands arise from the numerous quantized vibrational levels that are superimposed on the ground Skoog, West et al, Fundamentals of analytical chemistry, 8th ed, ISBN-13: 978-0-03-035523-3

state electronic level of a molecule. Continuum Spectra Truly continuous radiation is produced when solids such as carbon and tungsten are heated to incandescence. Thermal radiation of this kind, which is called blackbody radiation, is more characteristic of the temperature of the emitting surface than of its material. Blackbody radiation is produced by the innumerable atomic and molecular oscillations excited in the condensed solid by the thermal energy. Very high temperatures are required to cause a thermally excited source to emit a substantial fraction of its energy as ultraviolet radiation. Heated solids are important sources of infrared, visible, and longer wavelength ultraviolet radiation for analytical instruments.

Skoog, West et al, Fundamentals of analytical chemistry, 8th ed, ISBN-13: 978-0-03-035523-3