Textbook Problem

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A lamp emits red light of $\text{671 nm}\text{.}$ What element is in the lamp?

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The element present in the given lamp is to be identified.

Concept Introduction:

Absorption spectroscopy is a technique of measurement of the absorption of radiation. The color of any substance depends on the color of the light absorbed by the molecules or atoms that compose the substance.

Absorption spectroscopy is very useful in distinguishing many chemical compounds from each other in a mixture.

The specificity of spectroscopy allows one to identify the unknown samples by comparing with the reference spectra.

Explanation of Solution

Given information: Wavelength of light 671 nm.

In any substance, when atoms or molecules absorb certain wavelengths of light, they reflect the color of the light which is not absorbed. When an atom or molecule absorbs light, the electrons get excited from a lower energy level to a higher energy level, during which they release the energy in the form of radiation. Spectroscopy is the interaction of light with matter and is used to identify an unknown substance...