Question

Explain how the lines seen in the spectroscope relate to the position of electrons in the metal atom?

Answer 1

Answer:

The lines fall somewhere in one or more of the colors in the spectroscope.  When electrons in an atom are excited by shooting electricity through them for instance, some electrons are forced to temporatily jump to a higher energy level. As it is only temporary, the electron soon falls back down to its own level.  However as it loses potential energy it gives off a brief burst of light energy which we can see.  If the light is red then the electron didn't jump very high, and therefore lost only a little eneergy falling back down.  If the light is violet or purple it fell from a high orbital and released a lot of energy falling back down.  Everything else falls in between.

Explanation: