What type of spectrum, if any, would be produced if the light radiated by a heated atomic gas were to be dispersed through a prism?
A) a continuous band of color
B) a continuous band of color with some dark lines (missing wavelengths)
C) only blue light
D) only red light
E) discrete lines of different colors

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When the light radiated by a heated atomic gas is dispersed through a prism, it produces a spectrum of discrete lines of different colors. This is because the atoms in the gas can only emit or absorb light at specific wavelengths, which correspond to the energy differences between different atomic energy levels. These discrete wavelengths appear as bright lines (emission) or dark lines (absorption) in the spectrum. This type of spectrum is known as a line spectrum or atomic spectrum.

What Type of Spectrum, If Any, Would Be Produced If