A heated gas made up of individual atoms gives off a line spectrum when the emitted light is passed through a prism. How does a line spectrum differ from a continuous spectrum?

: A line spectrum is a type of spectrum that contains only a few spectral lines which are specific wavelengths of light. These lines are emitted by atoms when they transition from one energy level to another, and the spectrum appears as a series of discrete bright lines on a dark background. A continuous spectrum, on the other hand, is a spectrum that contains all wavelengths of light within a certain range, with no gaps in between. This type of spectrum is typically produced by hot, dense objects like stars or heated solid objects.

: A line spectrum is produced when atoms in a gas become excited (usually by heating or by passing an electric discharge through the gas) and then return to their ground state or a lower energy level. The energy difference between the two energy levels corresponds to a specific wavelength of light, and when this light is passed through a prism, a spectral line is produced at that wavelength. Since each element has a unique set of energy levels, the line spectrum produced by a gas is characteristic of the elements present in the gas.

: A continuous spectrum is produced when a heated, dense object emits light at all wavelengths due to the thermal motion of its atoms or molecules. When this light enters a prism, the wavelengths are separated, and the result is a continuous rainbow of colors. Such a spectrum is typically emitted by hot, dense objects such as stars, heated solids, and black bodies.

: A line spectrum differs from a continuous spectrum in the following ways: 1. A line spectrum contains only a few spectral lines corresponding to specific wavelengths of light, whereas a continuous spectrum contains all wavelengths within a certain range without any gaps. 2. A line spectrum is produced by atoms transitioning between discrete energy levels, whereas a continuous spectrum is produced by heated dense objects emitting light due to thermal motion. 3. A line spectrum is characteristic of the elements present in a gas and can be used as a fingerprint to identify the elements, while a continuous spectrum does not have specific lines associated with individual elements. In summary, a line spectrum is produced by heated gases composed of individual atoms and consists of discrete lines corresponding to specific wavelengths, while a continuous spectrum is produced by hot, dense objects and contains all wavelengths within a given range.