One of the emission lines of the hydrogen atom has a wavelength of 94.974 nm. (a) In what region of the electromagnetic spectrum is this emission found?

Key Concepts

Electromagnetic Spectrum

The electromagnetic spectrum encompasses all types of electromagnetic radiation, arranged by wavelength or frequency. It includes various regions such as radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays. Each region has distinct properties and applications, with wavelengths ranging from kilometers for radio waves to picometers for gamma rays.

Wavelength and Frequency Relationship

Wavelength and frequency are inversely related properties of electromagnetic waves. The relationship is described by the equation c = λν, where c is the speed of light, λ is the wavelength, and ν is the frequency. As the wavelength decreases, the frequency increases, which affects the energy of the emitted radiation, with shorter wavelengths corresponding to higher energy.

Ultraviolet Radiation

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a region of the electromagnetic spectrum with wavelengths shorter than visible light, typically ranging from about 10 nm to 400 nm. The specific wavelength of 94.974 nm falls within the UV range, which is known for its ability to cause chemical reactions, such as the ionization of atoms and molecules, and has applications in sterilization and fluorescence.