Emission vs Absorption

H-Atom ($E_{n}=-\frac{hR}{n^{2}}$)

Posts: 32
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 10:02 am

Emission vs Absorption

I notice that most of the homework problems offer the wavelength of light emitted as part of the given information, but I know you can also measure wavelength of light absorbed. Is there a difference in how you solve a given problem if it offers the wavelength of light absorbed rather than emitted?

Chem_Mod
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Re: Emission vs Absorption

The properties of the H-atom is not changing so absorption is opposite of emission. So the equations you use can be applied (in reverse) to obtain desired information.

Gianna Graziano 1A
Posts: 36
Joined: Wed Apr 04, 2018 2:00 am

Re: Emission vs Absorption

I am pretty sure that you can use either the light absorbed or emitted to get the same answer. You would just plug in the value accordingly. You can still use the Rydberg equation to predict the wavelength of light resulting from an electron moving between energy levels of an atom, whether that is up or down.

Jordanmarshall
Posts: 16
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 10:03 am

Re: Emission vs Absorption

I think the difference of light being absorbed vs emitted is where or not it is going up or down an energy level. If it is going up an energy level then it is absorption but if it is going down and energy level than it is being emitted. Careful tho because if it is going up you will get a negative number but just turn it positive!

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