\begin{tabular}{|c|c|}
\hline
Color & \begin{tabular}{c}
Wavelength \\
( [tex]$nm$[/tex] )
\end{tabular} \\
\hline
Red & [tex]$700-635$[/tex] \\
\hline
Orange & [tex]$635-590$[/tex] \\
\hline
Yellow & [tex]$590-560$[/tex] \\
\hline
Green & [tex]$560-490$[/tex] \\
\hline
Blue & [tex]$490-450$[/tex] \\
\hline
Purple & [tex]$450-400$[/tex] \\
\hline
\end{tabular}

A student analyzes the emission spectrum of an unknown element and observes strong lines at the following wavelengths: [tex]$656 nm, 486 nm, 434 nm$[/tex].

Which absorption spectrum is the student most likely viewing?
[tex]\(\square\)[/tex]



Answer :

Let's analyze the given wavelengths and determine which color each wavelength corresponds to according to the provided wavelength ranges:

1. Wavelength: 656 nm
- Checking the given wavelength ranges:
- Red: 700-635 nm
- Orange: 635-590 nm
- Yellow: 590-560 nm
- Green: 560-490 nm
- Blue: 490-450 nm
- Purple: 450-400 nm
- 656 nm falls in the range of Red (700-635 nm).

2. Wavelength: 486 nm
- Checking the given wavelength ranges:
- Red: 700-635 nm
- Orange: 635-590 nm
- Yellow: 590-560 nm
- Green: 560-490 nm
- Blue: 490-450 nm
- Purple: 450-400 nm
- 486 nm falls in the range of Blue (490-450 nm).

3. Wavelength: 434 nm
- Checking the given wavelength ranges:
- Red: 700-635 nm
- Orange: 635-590 nm
- Yellow: 590-560 nm
- Green: 560-490 nm
- Blue: 490-450 nm
- Purple: 450-400 nm
- 434 nm falls in the range of Purple (450-400 nm).

Now categorizing the given wavelengths:
- Red: 656 nm
- Blue: 486 nm
- Purple: 434 nm

Therefore, the student is most likely viewing an emission spectrum with the following strong lines:
- Red line at 656 nm
- Blue line at 486 nm
- Purple line at 434 nm

This matches the following absorption spectrum:

[tex]\[ \boxed{\text{{Red: 656 nm, Blue: 486 nm, Purple: 434 nm}}} \][/tex]

Hence, the conclusion is that the emission spectrum aligns with wavelengths in the red, blue, and purple regions.