Electron Energy Level Transitions

In summary: discrete electron energy level transitions and random thermal motion when the light shines on matter.
  • #1
Jimmy87
686
17
When an atom absorbs a photon of light and gets into an excited state, can it ever make a single jump back down to the ground state? For example, if an atom absorbed a blue photon of light then jumped straight back down to the ground state would it then emit a blue photon? How does emission transitions work for humans that continually absorb high energy light photons? For example, if a human is absorbing visible light photons then doesn't the emission photon have to equal that energy gap? So why is the re-radiated photon always infrared for humans? I would guess that the emission is staggered on its way back to the ground state but what dictates this? Any help answering any of these points is much appreciated.
 
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  • #2
Jimmy87 said:
When an atom absorbs a photon of light and gets into an excited state, can it ever make a single jump back down to the ground state? For example, if an atom absorbed a blue photon of light then jumped straight back down to the ground state would it then emit a blue photon?
Yes, sure.

Jimmy87 said:
How does emission transitions work for humans that continually absorb high energy light photons? For example, if a human is absorbing visible light photons then doesn't the emission photon have to equal that energy gap? So why is the re-radiated photon always infrared for humans?
Light doesn't just excite atoms. It interacts with matter in other ways too. When it shines on an object it increases the random thermal motion of the atoms, and the object warms up. Later it gets re-emitted as black body radiation, which for room temperature objects means infrared.
 
  • #3
Bill_K said:
Yes, sure.


Light doesn't just excite atoms. It interacts with matter in other ways too. When it shines on an object it increases the random thermal motion of the atoms, and the object warms up. Later it gets re-emitted as black body radiation, which for room temperature objects means infrared.


Thanks for your answer. So what dictates whether you get a discrete electron energy level transitions in some matter or just random thermal motion in other types of matter?
 
  • #4
You always get both
 

1. What are electron energy level transitions?

Electron energy level transitions refer to the movement of an electron from one energy level to another within an atom. This process involves the absorption or emission of energy in the form of photons.

2. How are electron energy level transitions related to light emission?

When an electron moves from a higher energy level to a lower one, it releases energy in the form of light. The color of the light emitted depends on the energy difference between the two levels, with higher energy differences producing shorter wavelengths (such as blue light) and lower energy differences producing longer wavelengths (such as red light).

3. What causes an electron to transition to a higher energy level?

An electron can transition to a higher energy level when it absorbs energy from an outside source, such as a photon of light or heat energy. This causes the electron to jump to a higher energy level, and it will eventually fall back to its original level, releasing the absorbed energy in the form of light.

4. How do electron energy level transitions contribute to atomic spectra?

Each element has a unique set of energy levels for its electrons. When an electron transitions between these levels, it emits or absorbs a specific amount of energy, resulting in a unique pattern of emission or absorption lines in an atomic spectrum. This allows scientists to identify elements based on their spectral lines.

5. Can electron energy level transitions occur in molecules?

Yes, electron energy level transitions can occur in molecules as well as atoms. However, in molecules, the energy levels are more complex due to the interactions between multiple atoms. This results in a more complex and unique pattern of spectral lines, which can be used to identify different molecules.

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