atomic emission spectroscopy Atomic emission spectroscopy (AES) is a method of chemical analysis that uses the intensity of light emitted from a flame, plasma, arc, or spark at a particular wavelength to determine the quantity of an element in a sample. The wavelength of ...

, the principal series is a series of spectral lines caused when electrons move between p orbitals of an atom and the lowest available s orbital. These lines are usually found in the visible and

ultraviolet Ultraviolet radiation, also known as simply UV, is electromagnetic radiation of wavelengths of 10–400 nanometers, shorter than that of visible light, but longer than X-rays. UV radiation is present in sunlight and constitutes about 10% of ...

portions of the

electromagnetic spectrum The electromagnetic spectrum is the full range of electromagnetic radiation, organized by frequency or wavelength. The spectrum is divided into separate bands, with different names for the electromagnetic waves within each band. From low to high ...

. The principal series has given the letter ''p'' to the p

atomic orbital In quantum mechanics, an atomic orbital () is a Function (mathematics), function describing the location and Matter wave, wave-like behavior of an electron in an atom. This function describes an electron's Charge density, charge distribution a ...

and subshell. Energy levels of sodium atom

The lines are absorption lines when the electron gains energy from an s subshell to a p subshell. When electrons descend in energy they produce an emission spectrum. The term principal came about because this series of lines is observed both in absorption and emission for alkali metal vapours. Other series of lines appear in the emission spectrum only and not in the absorption spectrum, and were named the

sharp series The sharp series is a series of spectral lines in the atomic emission spectrum caused when electrons descend from higher-energy s orbitals of an atom to the lowest available p orbital. The spectral lines include some in the visible light, and they ...

and the

diffuse series The diffuse series is a series of spectral lines in the atomic emission spectrum caused when electrons jump between the lowest p orbital and d orbitals of an atom. The total orbital angular momentum changes between 1 and 2. The spectral lines inc ...

based on the appearance of the lines.

References

Atomic physics Emission spectroscopy Absorption spectroscopy {{spectroscopy-stub