Hydrogen gas can only absorb EM radiation that has an energy corresponding to a
ID: 1391030 • Letter: H
Question
Hydrogen gas can only absorb EM radiation that has an energy corresponding to a transition in the atom, just as it can only emit these discrete energies. When a spectrum is taken of the solar corona, in which a broad range of EM wavelengths are passed through very hot hydrogen gas, the absorption spectrum shows all the features of the emission spectrum. But when such EM radiation passes through room-temperature hydrogen gas, only the Lyman series is absorbed. Explain the difference.
Insulators (nonmetals) have a higher BE than metals, and it is more difficult for photons to eject electrons from insulators. Discuss how this relates to the free charges in metals that make them good conductors.
Explanation / Answer
At room temprature all the atoms of Hydrogen remain in its ground state no atom is present in higher state, when EM radiation is passed through ,elctrons present in the ground state absorbs energy and jumps to higher level .When we have transition from ground state to higher state the obsorption line is called Lyman series. As there is no atom present in other than ground state (level n=1) so other transition takes place hance no other absorption line.
Due to Lower Bond Energy (BE) electrons from outer shell can be easily become free to move as less energy is rquired to make electron free . Hence when photon strikes metal it gives sufficient amount of energy electron to to become free and coduct electricity but in case of Insulator energy given by poton is not suffieent to make electron free(as BE is high).
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