Chemistry / Unit 5 Chem 0788 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Line Spectra Versus Continuous Spectra
Captions available
The idea
A continuous spectrum blends every wavelength smoothly; a line spectrum shows only a few sharp wavelengths unique to one element.
In practice
Passing hydrogen gas's light through a prism produces four sharp lines, not the rainbow a hot solid produces.
Where people slip
A line spectrum's discrete lines are the puzzle Bohr's model explains — a wave picture gives no reason for gaps.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Something wrong in this lesson? Flag it · Sources for Chemistry