Question

When sodium is excited in a flame, two ultraviolet spectral lines at (wave length symbol)=372.1 nm and (wave length symbol)=376.4 nm respectively are emitted. Which wavelength represents photons with

Answer 1

Sodium has emits yellow light in two wavelengths because of the Zeeman effect. It is due to the quantum spin of the electrons. It could either be the up spin or the down spin. The up spin is for the shorter wavelength (372,1 nm) and the down spin is for the longer wavelength (376.4 nm).