Final answer:
The visible spectrum of hydrogen, known as the Balmer series, consists of four distinct emission lines at 656 nm (red), 486 nm (green), 434 nm (blue), and 410 nm (violet).
Step-by-step explanation:
The hydrogen spectrum consists of several different emission lines, each corresponding to a single wavelength of light. When hydrogen gas is excited by an electric discharge, the H₂ molecules separate into individual H atoms. The emitted light can be split into its component wavelengths using a prism, revealing a set of discrete energies. The visible spectrum of hydrogen consists of four distinct wavelengths, which are the Balmer series transitions.
These lines correspond to electrons transitioning from higher energy levels to the second energy level (n = 2), with each transition emitting a particular wavelength of light. The specific lines are at 656 nm (red), 486 nm (green), 434 nm (blue), and 410 nm (violet), with the red line being the most intense due to a greater number of atoms in the n = 3 state at the typical temperature of the gas discharge tube.