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Which statement is true concerning atomic spectra?

a.An emission spectrum (bright lines) is produced when atoms are excited to higher energy levels by simultaneously emitting photons.
b.During the production of emission spectra, electrons move from higher to lower energy levels.
c.Absorption spectra are seen as bright colored lines against a dark background.
d.The emission spectrum of hydrogen consists of four lines but other elements have more lines.
e.Each line in the emission spectrum of hydrogen represents one of the allowed energy levels in the hydrogen ato

1 Answer

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Final answer:

Each line in the hydrogen atom's emission spectrum signifies a permissible energy level, and the transition between these levels results in spectral lines. Absorption spectra show dark lines indicating absorbed wavelengths, serving as unique identifiers for elements.

Step-by-step explanation:

The true statement concerning atomic spectra is that each line in the emission spectrum of hydrogen represents one of the allowed energy levels in the hydrogen atom. When electrons transition between these energy levels, they emit or absorb photons, resulting in distinctive spectral lines.

An absorption spectrum is observed when a substance absorbs certain wavelengths of light. This spectrum displays dark lines against the background of the continuous spectrum, where each dark line corresponds to a specific wavelength that has been absorbed and is missing from the observed spectrum.

The emission and absorption spectra are unique to each element and can be used as a 'fingerprint' to identify the elements present in a sample or celestial body. Bohr's model of the atom highlighted this by showing specific orbits where electrons reside and transition between in the hydrogen atom.