Atomic Absorption and Emission

The various energy states of an atom are defined by the orbitals the electrons occupy. One way to provide the energy needed to excite an atom from its ground state to an excited state is to bombard the atom with photons of light. After absorbing the photons, an electron becomes excited and moves from a low energy orbital to one of higher energy. The decay of electrons in an atom from a higher energy state to a lower energy state often results in release of a photon. This process is called emission.

This module simulates the effect photons of light have on the energy of hydrogen atoms. The light source will emit a certain wavelength of light that is absorbed by the hydrogen atom. As a result, the atom becomes excited and the electron changes energy states by changing orbitals, depicted by an electron density diagram, as well as an energy level diagram. The wavelength of emitted light as the atom returns to the ground state is detected.

</COMMENT>

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Adjust the energy of light by selecting one of the three wavelengths from the wavelength menu item.
  2. Click on the send photon button to excite the electron in the hydrogen atom.
Last modified: April 13, 2000