Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Absorption spectra represent the specific wavelengths or colors of light absorbed by an atom or molecule when transitioning from a lower energy state to an excited state.
Related terms
Ground State: The lowest energy state of an electron within an atom or molecule.
Continuous Spectrum: A type of spectrum that contains all wavelengths without any gaps or lines.
Spectrophotometer: An instrument used to measure the absorption or transmission of light by a substance as a function of wavelength.