Which statement about the black absorption lines is true
A) all elements have identical patterns, and number of lines
B) each element has its own unique pattern and number of lines
C) the absorption lines are all at the same location and the same thickness
D) every real man has the same number of absorption lines
B) each element has its own unique pattern and number of lines
The correct statement about black absorption lines is B) each element has its own unique pattern and number of lines.
The correct statement about black absorption lines is B) each element has its own unique pattern and number of lines.
To understand why this statement is true, we need to explain a little about black absorption lines and spectroscopy.
Black absorption lines appear in the electromagnetic spectrum when light passes through a material and certain wavelengths of light are absorbed by the atoms or molecules in that material. When this happens, dark lines appear in the spectrum where the light was absorbed.
Spectroscopy is the study of these absorption lines to identify the elements or molecules present in a sample. Scientists have observed that each element has its own unique pattern of absorption lines. These patterns serve as a "fingerprint" for each element.
The reason for this uniqueness is that each element has a specific arrangement of electrons in its atoms. When light passes through a sample containing atoms of different elements, each element will absorb light at specific wavelengths based on the energy levels of its electrons. This results in a distinct pattern of absorption lines.
Furthermore, the number of absorption lines in a spectrum depends on the complexity of the element's electron configuration. Elements with a greater number of electrons and more complex electron configurations will have more absorption lines in their spectra compared to elements with simpler electron configurations.
Therefore, statement B is true. Each element has its own unique pattern and number of black absorption lines, making spectroscopy a powerful tool for identifying elements present in a sample.