Which term describes the pattern of wavelengths absorbed by a material?

Which term describes the pattern of wavelengths absorbed by a material?

• A. Absorption spectrum
• B. Emission spectrum
• C. Scattering spectrum
• D. Transmission spectrum

Answer: (A)

The pattern of wavelengths a material absorbs is described by its absorption spectrum. When light encounters a substance, photons with energies matching the allowed electronic transitions are absorbed, removing those wavelengths from the transmitted or reflected light. This creates a characteristic pattern that acts like a fingerprint for the material. Emission spectra, by contrast, show wavelengths a substance emits when excited, not what it absorbs. Transmission spectrum shows which wavelengths pass through, including dips at absorbed wavelengths, while a scattering spectrum isn’t the standard term used for describing absorption patterns.

The pattern of wavelengths a material absorbs is described by its absorption spectrum. When light encounters a substance, photons with energies matching the allowed electronic transitions are absorbed, removing those wavelengths from the transmitted or reflected light. This creates a characteristic pattern that acts like a fingerprint for the material. Emission spectra, by contrast, show wavelengths a substance emits when excited, not what it absorbs. Transmission spectrum shows which wavelengths pass through, including dips at absorbed wavelengths, while a scattering spectrum isn’t the standard term used for describing absorption patterns.