Final answer:
In the context of chemistry, the plot of energy absorbed as a function of wavenumber, frequency, or wavelength is called spectroscopy. It is used to analyze how substances interact with light to gain insights into their molecular structure and composition.
Step-by-step explanation:
The plot of energy absorbed as a function of wavenumber, frequency, or wavelength is called spectroscopy. Spectroscopy is the practice of measuring how light interacts with matter to reveal properties of a substance by observing what wavelengths are absorbed or emitted.
In a molecular spectroscopy experiment, different wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation are passed through a sample, which absorbs certain wavelengths corresponding to the energy difference between the ground state (A) and an excited state (B). By analyzing which wavelengths are absorbed and to what extent, insights into the molecular structure of the sample are gained.
The wavelengths that are not absorbed create what is known as a continuous spectrum, while the absorbed wavelengths appear as dark lines, known as the absorption spectrum. This matches the characteristic line emission spectrum of elements when they emit light, revealing distinct patterns unique to each element.