Difference between Line Emission Spectrum and Band Emission Spectrum

Key difference: A ‘line emission spectrum’ is obtained when the emission occurs from an atom, where the lines are usually unique and distinct in nature, while a ‘band emission spectrum’ is in the form of continuous bands that are obtained from molecules.

Emission is the process by which a higher energy quantum mechanical state of a particle gets converted to a lower form through the emission of a photon, resulting in the production of light. In emission, the spectrums of bright lines, bands, or continuous radiations are the characteristics which are determined by specific emitting substances and subjected to a specific kind of excitation. These spectrums are obtained from gases like hydrogen, helium, lithium, mercury, etc.

In simple terms, a line emission spectrum consists a variety of frequencies of electromagnetic radiations, generally emitted by elements, atoms or compound molecules at their lower energy states. Each emission spectrum in a line emission is unique and distinct in nature.

A band emission spectrum is generally obtained from various line spectra. These are closely spaced together in a continuous state. Unlike line spectrum, the band spectra are obtained from various line spectra, while they differ in characteristics and properties. In physics, band emission is described as a fraction of the total emission from a blackbody, which comes in different intervals among certain wavelengths (which are called as bands).

Spectral emission lines are extraordinarily useful in astronomy, physics, quantum mechanics, chemistry, etc. These emissions deal distinctly with the 'spectroscopy emission' concept. The mentioned emission is a spectroscopic technique that examines the wavelengths of photons emitted by atoms/molecules during their transition from an excited state to a lower energy state.

Comparison between Line Emission Spectrum and Band Emission Spectrum:

 

Line Emission Spectrum

Band Emission Spectrum

Short description

A line emission spectrum is simply the variety of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation usually emitted by the element's atoms or the compound's molecules when they are in a lower energy state.

A band emission spectrum is generally obtained from various line spectra that are closely spaced together and are in a continuous state.

Obtained from

These are obtained via an atom or an element.

These are obtained from various line spectrums.

Image Courtesy: .quarkology.com, hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu

Most Searched in Electronics Most Searched in Society and Culture
Most Searched in Pregnancy and Parenting Most Searched in Sports
TFT vs LCD
Board of Directors vs Management
Pong vs Ping Pong
Antivirus vs Firewall Software

Add new comment

Plain text

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.