... part if the spectrum (2). In order for the emission spectrum to be seen, the atoms of an element must be in an excited state. However, in order for the absorption spectrum to be seen, the atoms must be their ground state. The diagram below (1) shows an absorption spectrum of an element. The flame is cooler, and most of the atoms are in their ground state. If white light is passed through this cooler sample, and this light is then passed through a prism, black lines will appear on a bright background. These lines correspond exactly with the coloured lines in the emission spectrum of that specific element (2). For example, the yellow lines on the emission spectrum of sodium are is exactly the same place as the black lines on the absorption spectrum. As the sequence of lines in any atomic spectrum is characteristic only of the atoms in ...

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