Question

Spectra from neutral atoms compared with spectra from ionized atoms of the same element

A) are the same.
B) are slightly redshifted.
C) are slightly blueshifted.
D) have different sets of spectral lines.
E) have the same sets of spectral lines but different widths for those lines.

Answer 1

Spectra from neutral atoms and ionized atoms of the same element have different sets of spectral lines.

Step-by-step explanation:

The spectra from neutral atoms compared with spectra from ionized atoms of the same element have different sets of spectral lines. When an atom is ionized, each time an electron is removed, the energy levels and wavelengths of the spectral lines change. This allows astronomers to differentiate the ions of a given element. Therefore, the correct answer is D.