Spectroscopy

What is spectroscopy?

The study of how atoms absorb or emit light when subjected to energy changes.

What are two ``states'' that atoms and molecules are found in?

1. Ground state is the baseline, stable state in which atoms and molecules are found most of the time.
2. Excited state is the unstable state which is produced when the atom or molecule is subjected to energy. This state is unstable and usually decays to the ground state.

What model describes the changes in light emitted by an excited hydrogen atom?

The Bohr model. The more energy you put in, the higher the frequency of emitted light. At some point, you can put in too much energy and the orbiting electron bounces from energy level to energy level until it is ejected from the hydrogen atom's ``orbit,'' creating a hydrogen cation, i.e. H$^{+}$, or simply a lone proton.