What is the difference between Emission and Absorption Spectra? - ProProfs Discuss
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What is the difference between Emission and Absorption Spectra?

Asked by E. Reyes, Last updated: Dec 26, 2023

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7 Answers

C. Bernthal

C. Bernthal

Its kind of my job to give answers

C. Bernthal
C. Bernthal, Teacher, MA, P.hD, Seattle

Answered Feb 19, 2021

The emission spectrum has different colored lines, while the absorption spectrum has dark-colored lines. They are an important element in chemistry and physics. Absorption is used to ascertain the level at which an item can ability to retain heat, while emission is the ability of an item to give off light when it interacts with heat.

Absorption spectra are produced when the atoms give off energy, while absorption spectra are produced when the atom has energy. Absorption can be done in a wavelength, wavenumber, or frequency. The lines in emission show that lines of light can be emitted through hot glowing gas while absorption lines are the tendency of cool atmospheric gas.

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E. James

E. James

E. James
E. James

Answered Feb 02, 2021

Emission is the ability of a material to give off light when it interacts with heat. Absorption is the opposite of emission, where certain electrons absorb energy, light, or radiation. Emission and absorption are both useful in chemistry and physics.

When warmth, energy, or light is applied to a material, some of the molecules shift into a higher energy state during emission. During this state, the molecules are volatile and attempt to emit energy in photons or light. It assists scientists to identify elements in certain substances. On the other hand, absorption is the capacity of matter or electron to absorb light or radiation, which makes them change into a new state.

Absorption is utilized to ascertain the absorption levels of specific items and their ability to retain heat. The absorption spectrum is the facilitation of energy that is absorbed by an element or matter. Absorption can be demonstrated in a wavelength, frequency, or wave number.

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Jessica Rhodes

Jessica Rhodes

The economy is the basis of development, so I'd like to explore and share my knowledge more and more online and offline.

Jessica Rhodes
Jessica Rhodes, Economic advisor, Master of Economics (MEcon), Ohio

Answered Jan 22, 2021

The major difference between emission and absorption spectra is that an emission spectrum has different colored lines in the spectrum, while an absorption spectrum has dark-colored lines in the spectrum.

Emission lines show that glowing hot gas emits lines of light, while absorption lines are the tendency of cool atmospheric gas to absorb that same lines of light. Emission spectra happen when an electron jumps from a higher orbital to a lower orbital by releasing energy, while absorption spectra happen when an electron jumps from lower to higher orbital by releasing energy.

An emission spectrum can be used to identify the composition of a matter, while the absorption spectrum has the capacity of a matter to absorb heat.

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A. Samuel

A. Samuel

Writing quality content for contentment has been my passion since i was 21. I've been pursuing it as a Content Manager and Producer.

A. Samuel
A. Samuel, Content Manager, Masters in Marketing and accounting, Florida

Answered Jan 20, 2021

Emission spectra and absorption spectra are two concepts related to the field of physics. They are both chemical elements. One of the main differences between them is when they are produced. The emission spectra are produced when the atoms give off energy.

Absorption spectra are produced when the atoms take in energy. Both spectrums comprise lines, but they differ in the lines they comprise. Emission spectra comprise lines that are colored. Absorption spectra comprise lines that are darker, and they can also create gaps in the spectrum.

The emission spectra have photons that are important, while the absorption spectra have wavelengths that are important.

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Isabel Mathew

Isabel Mathew

Coding is my forte plus writing and sharing my experiences online is one of my favorite hobbies.

Isabel Mathew
Isabel Mathew, Software engineer, BS(Bachelor of Science), Austin,Texas

Answered Jan 19, 2021

When a scientist comes across a sample from a remote or distant area, his ambition is to learn the matter's composition. He may choose to expose the sample to emission or absorption spectroscopy. In the absorption spectra, the scientist is expected to observe how the atoms' electrons absorb the electromagnetic energy from the light source.

When the light is directed towards the atoms, ions, or molecules, the particles tend to absorb wavelengths that can stimulate them and cause them to shift from one quantum to the other. The spectrometer can record the amount of absorbed wavelength, and the scientist can then examine the list of element characteristics to verify the structure of the sample gathered.

Emission spectra are completed with the same process of light subjection. In these processes, the scientist observes the amount of light or heat energy produced by the atom's photons that make them return to their original quantum. Absorption does not necessitate the excitation of the ions or atoms, unlike the emission spectra. Quartz lamps are usually utilized in absorption, while burners are used for emission spectra.

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C. Lopez

C. Lopez

Driving down to Knowledge town

C. Lopez
C. Lopez, Chauffer, Chauffer, Watertown

Answered Jan 14, 2021

One difference between emission and the absorption spectra is the absorption lines. The emission spectrum comes with different colored lines in the spectrum. In the emission spectrum, the electrons will be moving from the low energy levels going to the high energy levels.

The excited electrons will produce enough energy to go from the ground state to the excited state. Take note that at this time, the electrons will be considered as unstable. Absorption will come with high frequencies of light.

They will be transmitted with dark bands and they will be absorbed by the electrons to reach a higher ground state. To make the difference more obvious, emission happens when atoms release energy while absorption happens when atoms absorb energy.

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W. Kaye

W. Kaye

Here to answer and learn

W. Kaye
W. Kaye, Ex-Marine, Post Graduate, Chapel Hill

Answered Jan 12, 2021

After the absorption of energy by the electrons of an atom, they usually move from the ground states or lower energy levels to higher energy levels or excited states. Also, before these electrons can return to ground states, they will need to radiate energy.

However, the frequencies produced during this process are what formed the emission spectrum. On the other hand, an absorption spectrum is formed by the frequencies produced when electrons of an atom absorb energy, causing them to move from lower energy levels to higher energy levels.

One of the major differences between emission and absorption spectra is that the former gives different colored lines when it is formed, while the latter only gives dark colored lines. An emission spectrum can be used to identify the composition of a matter. On the contrary, you can use an absorption spectrum to determine the capacity of a matter to absorb heat.

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