Question

In both absorption and emission spectroscopy, how is the energy of the photon related to the energy levels involved in a particular electronic transition?

a) The energy of the photon is higher than the energy levels involved.
b) The energy of the photon is lower than the energy levels involved.
c) The energy of the photon is equal to the energy difference between the levels.
d) The energy of the photon has no relationship to the energy levels.

Answer 1

In both absorption and emission spectroscopy, c) the energy of the photon is equal to the energy difference between the levels involved.

Step-by-step explanation:

In both absorption and emission spectroscopy, the energy of the photon is equal to the energy difference between the levels involved in a particular electronic transition. During absorption spectroscopy, when an electron moves from a lower energy level to a higher one, it absorbs a photon with energy equal to the energy difference between the levels. On the other hand, in emission spectroscopy, when an electron moves from a higher energy level to a lower one, it emits a photon with energy equal to the energy difference between the levels.