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If we spectroscopically observe a cloud of hot gas, which is on the whole not very absorbent, and which is not illuminated by a source behind it, we observe emission lines. How does this type of spectrum form? I had thought that those lines are those in which there are transitions of atoms is true, but I don't think that's enough. Why should all the material as a whole emit like that. Why are there these electronic transitions?

User Sivan
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Final answer:

When observing a cloud of hot gas spectroscopically, we can see emission lines. These lines are produced by electronic transitions in the atoms or molecules in the gas. Each gas has a unique pattern of spectral lines, indicating the wavelengths of light it can absorb or emit.

Step-by-step explanation:

When we observe a cloud of hot gas spectroscopically, we see emission lines. When observing a cloud of hot gas spectroscopically, we can see emission lines. These lines are produced by electronic transitions in the atoms or molecules in the gas. Each gas has a unique pattern of spectral lines, indicating the wavelengths of light it can absorb or emit.

These lines are produced when the atoms or molecules in the gas undergo electronic transitions. Each particular gas has its own characteristic pattern of spectral lines, which are unique to that gas. This is because each gas can only absorb or emit certain wavelengths of light.

The emission lines in the spectrum of the cloud of hot gas indicate the wavelengths of light that are emitted by the atoms or molecules in the gas.

User Dole Doug
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