Ch.6 - Electronic Structure of Atoms

Problem 15b

Chapter 6, Problem 15b

Label each of the following statements as true or false. For those that are false, correct the statement. (b) Ultraviolet light has longer wavelengths than visible light.

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Understand the electromagnetic spectrum: The electromagnetic spectrum is a range of all types of electromagnetic radiation, which includes, in order of increasing wavelength, gamma rays, X-rays, ultraviolet (UV) light, visible light, infrared (IR) light, microwaves, and radio waves.

Identify the position of ultraviolet and visible light: In the electromagnetic spectrum, ultraviolet light is located just before visible light, meaning it has shorter wavelengths than visible light.

Recall the relationship between wavelength and energy: Wavelength and energy are inversely related. This means that shorter wavelengths correspond to higher energy, and longer wavelengths correspond to lower energy.

Evaluate the statement: The statement 'Ultraviolet light has longer wavelengths than visible light' is false because ultraviolet light actually has shorter wavelengths than visible light.

Correct the false statement: The correct statement is 'Ultraviolet light has shorter wavelengths than visible light.'

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Electromagnetic Spectrum

The electromagnetic spectrum encompasses all types of electromagnetic radiation, arranged by wavelength. It includes gamma rays, X-rays, ultraviolet (UV) light, visible light, infrared radiation, microwaves, and radio waves. Understanding the spectrum is crucial for distinguishing between different types of light and their properties.

Wavelength and Frequency

Wavelength is the distance between successive peaks of a wave, while frequency is the number of waves that pass a point in one second. These two properties are inversely related; as wavelength increases, frequency decreases. This relationship is fundamental in understanding the characteristics of different types of light.

Visible Light Range

Visible light is the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that can be detected by the human eye, typically ranging from about 400 nm (violet) to 700 nm (red). Ultraviolet light, which lies just beyond the visible spectrum, has shorter wavelengths (10 nm to 400 nm) than visible light, making the statement in the question false.

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Visible Light Spectrum

Related Practice

Open Question

The wavenumber l is the number of waves that exist over a specified distance, very often 1 cm. The wavenumber can easily be calculated by taking the reciprocal of the wavelength. Give typical wavenumbers for (a) X-rays (λ = 1 nm) (b) visible light (λ = 500 nm) (c) microwaves (λ = 1 mm).

Open Question

Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere absorbs energy in the 4.0–4.5 mm range of the spectrum. (a) Calculate the frequency of the 4.0 mm radiation.

Textbook Question

Label each of the following statements as true or false. For those that are false, correct the statement. (a) Visible light is a form of electromagnetic radiation.

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Textbook Question

Label each of the following statements as true or false. For those that are false, correct the statement. (c) X rays travel faster than microwaves.

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Textbook Question

Determine which of the following statements are false and correct them. Determine which of the following statements are false and correct them. (a) The frequency of radiation increases as the wavelength increases. (b) Electromagnetic radiation travels through a vacuum at a constant speed, regardless of wavelength. (c) Infrared light has higher frequencies than visible light. (d) The glow from a fireplace, the energy within a microwave oven, and a foghorn blast are all forms of electromagnetic radiation.

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Textbook Question

Arrange the following kinds of electromagnetic radiation in order of increasing wavelength: infrared, green light, red light, radio waves, X rays, ultraviolet light.

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