The early workers in spectroscopy (Fraunhofer with the solar spectrum;Bunsen and Kirchhoff with laboratory spectra)discovered what very significant fact about the spectra produced by hot gases,such as elements heated in a flame?
A) The higher the temperature,the greater the proportion of red in the emitted spectral lines.
B) They produce their own characteristic pattern of spectral lines,which remain fixed as the temperature increases.
C) They emit spectral lines that move continuously toward the blue end of the spectrum as the gas temperature increases.
D) They produce the same set of spectral lines and are hence indistinguishable.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Bunsen and Kirchhoff discovered that hot gases, such as elements heated in a flame, produced their own characteristic pattern of spectral lines, which remain fixed as the temperature increases. This discovery led to the development of spectral analysis as a powerful tool for identifying and studying elements.

The Early Workers in Spectroscopy (Fraunhofer with the Solar Spectrum;Bunsen