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
Emission spectra refer to the specific wavelengths or colors of light emitted by an atom or molecule when it transitions from an excited state to a lower energy state.
Related terms
Excited State: An electron's higher energy state compared to its ground state within an atom or molecule.
Line Spectrum: A type of emission spectrum consisting only of discrete lines corresponding to specific wavelengths.
Fluorescence: A process where certain substances absorb light at one wavelength and emit it at another longer wavelength.