Atomic de-excitation

Definition

Atomic de-excitation occurs when an excited electron in an atom returns to a lower energy state, releasing energy in the form of a photon. This process is fundamental to phenomena such as fluorescence and the emission spectra of elements.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. During atomic de-excitation, the energy difference between the higher and lower energy states is emitted as a photon.
2. The wavelength (and thus color) of the emitted photon depends on the energy difference between the two states.
3. Atomic de-excitation can be spontaneous or stimulated; in spontaneous emission, it happens naturally without external influence.
4. De-excitation processes are crucial for understanding how lasers work through stimulated emission.
5. Spectroscopic techniques often rely on observing photons emitted during atomic de-excitations to identify elements.

Review Questions

Related terms

Photon: A particle representing a quantum of light or other electromagnetic radiation, which carries energy proportional to its frequency.

Excited State:

A state of an atom where one or more electrons have absorbed energy and moved to a higher energy level than their ground state.

Fluorescence:

\\text{Emission of light by a substance that has absorbed light or other electromagnetic radiation, typically visible light.}