A spectrum of an unknown material reveals discrete bright lines with long,dark gaps between them.Which of the following could describe the unknown material?
A) a hot cooking pot
B) cool chicken noodle soup
C) steam
D) ice made opaque by high pressures

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The description of discrete bright lines with long, dark gaps is characteristic of an emission spectrum, which is produced when atoms or molecules absorb energy and then release that energy as light when they return to a lower energy state. This is typical of gases, such as steam, where the atoms or molecules are well separated and can emit light at specific wavelengths corresponding to the energy differences between quantized energy levels.

A Spectrum of an Unknown Material Reveals Discrete Bright Lines