Hydrogen emission and absorption spectra. When electrons in an element become excited (by heating), they enter higher energy orbits. When they return

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Hydrogen emission and absorption spectra. When electrons in an element become excited (by heating), they enter higher energy orbits. When they return to their ground state they release the extra energy as light radiation at a specific wavelength. The wavelengths emitted by an element are characteristic of that element. A matching absorption spectrum occurs when light passes through a material and is absorbed by its atoms. The 4 lines of the visible hydrogen spectrum (the Balmer series) correspond to wavelengths of , , and nanometres (nm). For this diagram with unlabelled lines, see C025/8083.

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