The figure at the right shows transitions between three states of a molecule (la

Question

The figure at the right shows transitions between three states of a molecule (labeled E_1, E_2, and E_3) that are observed through the emission and absorption of photons in a pair of experiments, A and B. Which transition is associated with the emission of the photon of the longest wavelength? Which transition is associated with the absorption of the photon of the shortest wavelength? What might be a likely reason that there is no transition shown from E_2 to E_3 in situation B? The light is incident on a gas of the molecules and does not contain any light of the correct frequency. The upward transition from E_2 to E_3 is forbidden by the laws of quantum physics. The light is incident on a cold gas of the molecules and there are very few molecules in the state E_2. The author just forgot to draw it in. If a cold gas of these molecules was in the atmosphere of a star that was emitting a continuous spectrum, you would expect to see some dark lines across the continuous spectrum from that star. Which frequencies would you expect to be significantly blocked by passing through the cold gas? (E_2 E_1)/h (E_3 E_1)/h (E_3 E_2)/h None of them.

Explanation / Answer

1) Longest wavelength means smallest energy. So transition c is related to the emission of photon with smallest energy.

2) Shortest wavelength means largest energy. Transition e is corresponding the absorption of shortest wavelength.

3) Here option c) seems to be correct as there is very few molecules in the state E2 so the transition doesnot take place.

4) (E3-E2)/h will be blocked completely.

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