Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
Spectroscopy is a scientific measurement technique used to examine matter by observing its interaction with different components of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Related terms
Absorption Spectrum: This is a spectrum produced when light passes through a cool gas and atoms in the gas absorb at specific frequencies; it's like finding specific fingerprints at a crime scene.
Emission Spectrum: This is a spectrum of radiation emitted by an excited atom or other body; it's akin to getting DNA evidence from a suspect that matches evidence found at the crime scene.
Atomic Spectra: These are lines that represent the wavelengths at which a chemical element can absorb or emit energy. They're like unique ID cards for each element in our detective story.