Free Atomic Spectra MCQs with Answers

356 Atomic Spectra MCQs from Physics, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.

Atoms emit or absorb light at specific wavelengths because electrons occupy quantized energy levels and change levels by absorbing or releasing photons. The topic covers emission and absorption spectra, spectral series, hydrogen’s line spectrum, energy-level transitions, and the relation between wavelength, frequency and photon energy.

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356 questions · page 2 of 18

Easy
  • A. Infrared region
  • B. Ultraviolet region
  • C. X-ray region
  • D. Visible region

Explanation: Balmer transitions all end on the second energy level, and those energy gaps correspond to visible photons, which is why these are the…

Correct answer: Visible region
  • A. Lyman series is a continuous spectrum.
  • B. Paschen series is a line spectrum in the infra red.
  • C. Balmer series is a line spectrum in the ultraviolet.
  • D. the spectral series formula can be derived from the Rutherford model of the hydrogen atom.

Explanation: The Paschen series consists of transitions ending at the n = 3 energy level, and its wavelengths lie in the infrared region.

Correct answer: Paschen series is a line spectrum in the infra red.
  • A. Electrons
  • B. Protons
  • C. Neutrons
  • D. Neutrino

Explanation: Rutherford's model could not explain why orbiting electrons do not continuously lose energy and spiral into the nucleus, nor why atoms…

Correct answer: Electrons
  • A. The illumination of the target metal by ultra-violet radiation
  • B. The bombardment of the target by protons
  • C. The bombardment of target by electrons
  • D. The absorption of radiation by the target metal

Explanation: Characteristic X-rays arise when incident electrons eject inner-shell electrons from target atoms and electrons from higher shells fall…

Correct answer: The bombardment of target by electrons
  • A. γ-rays
  • B. Infra red radiation
  • C. Visible light
  • D. Ultraviolet rays

Explanation: Electronic transitions involve changes in atomic electron energy levels and usually produce infrared, visible or ultraviolet photons.

Correct answer: γ-rays
  • A. ultraviolet rays
  • B. X-rays
  • C. infra red radiation
  • D. visible radiation

Explanation: Red light has the longest wavelength in the visible spectrum, so radiation with an even longer wavelength lies in the infrared region.

Correct answer: infra red radiation
  • A. 4th orbit
  • B. 5th orbit
  • C. 3rd orbit
  • D. 2nd orbit

Explanation: The Brackett series contains hydrogen transitions that terminate at the fourth energy level, n = 4.

Correct answer: 4th orbit
  • A. continuous spectra for atoms
  • B. discrete spectra for atoms
  • C. either continuous nor discrete
  • D. no spectrum

Explanation: According to Rutherford's classical model, orbiting electrons should continuously radiate energy, producing a continuous spectrum as their…

Correct answer: continuous spectra for atoms
  • A. radiate electromagnetic energy with a continuous distribution of wavelength
  • B. absorb particular wavelengths when white light is incident on them
  • C. radiate electromagnetic energy of discrete characteristic wavelength
  • D. emit either invisible or visible light

Explanation: Excited atoms return to lower energy levels by emitting photons whose energies equal the differences between allowed levels.

Correct answer: radiate electromagnetic energy of discrete characteristic wavelength
  • A. 1st to 5th orbit
  • B. 2nd to 5th orbit
  • C. 3rd to 5th orbit
  • D. 4th to 5th orbit

Explanation: For absorption into the fifth orbit, the absorbed photon energy is the difference between the fifth-level energy and the starting-level…

Correct answer: 1st to 5th orbit
  • A. band spectrum
  • B. line spectrum
  • C. continuous spectrum
  • D. absorption spectrum

Explanation: Hydrogen atoms have quantized energy levels, so emitted photons have only specific energies and wavelengths.

Correct answer: line spectrum
  • A. three
  • B. four
  • C. five
  • D. six

Explanation: The principal hydrogen spectral series are Lyman, Balmer, Paschen, Brackett and Pfund.

Correct answer: five
  • A. 10-10s
  • B. 10-8s
  • C. 10-6s
  • D. 10-9s

Explanation: An excited atomic state usually has a lifetime of about 10^-8 s before spontaneous emission returns the atom to a lower state.

Correct answer: 10-8s
  • A. Balmer series
  • B. Pfund series
  • C. Bracket series
  • D. Lymann series

Explanation: The Lyman series consists of transitions ending at n = 1. These transitions have relatively large energy differences and therefore high…

Correct answer: Lymann series
  • A. Simple vibratory motion
  • B. Standing wave motion
  • C. Vibratory motion like up and down
  • D. S.H.M likes the sound

Explanation: In the de Broglie model, an electron allowed in an atomic orbit behaves like a standing matter wave, with the orbit containing an integral…

Correct answer: Standing wave motion
  • A. J.J.Thomson model
  • B. Rutherfords model
  • C. Bohrs model
  • D. All of the above laws contradict the statement

Explanation: In Thomson's model, the atom was considered a diffuse sphere of positive charge with electrons embedded in it, so its positive charge and…

Correct answer: J.J.Thomson model
  • A. Absorption
  • B. Emission
  • C. Release
  • D. Free particle

Explanation: A spectral line is a dark or bright line in an otherwise uniform and continuous spectrum, resulting from the emission or absorption of…

Correct answer: Emission
  • A. Electric fibre
  • B. Neon Street sign
  • C. Red traffic light
  • D. Sun

Explanation: Neon lighting consists of brightly glowing, electrified glass tubes or bulbs that contain rarefied neon or other gases.

Correct answer: Neon Street sign
  • A. Greater
  • B. Greater than equal to
  • C. Less
  • D. None of these

Explanation: Atomic spectra are produced when the atoms of an element in a gaseous state are excited to a higher energy level, and then they emit…

Correct answer: Less
  • A. Ar filled
  • B. He filled
  • C. H filled
  • D. Vaccum

Explanation: An X-ray tube is a vacuum tube that is designed to generate X-rays by accelerating electrons to high speeds and then colliding them with a…

Correct answer: Vaccum