What element is being shown in the absorption spectrum? zinc cadmium hydrogen

To determine which element is represented in the absorption spectrum you've referenced—**zinc**, **cadmium**, or **hydrogen**—let's briefly review the characteristic absorption features of each: 1. **Hydrogen**: - **Distinctive Lines**: Hydrogen has a well-known and easily recognizable set of spectral lines, especially in the visible region known as the Balmer series. These include: - **H₅ (Balmer series)**: Transition from \( n = 5 \) to \( n = 2 \) (green line around 434 nm) - **H₄**: Transition from \( n = 4 \) to \( n = 2 \) (blue-green line around 486 nm) - **H₃**: Transition from \( n = 3 \) to \( n = 2 \) (red line around 656 nm) - **Usage**: Widely used in identifying hydrogen gas in various contexts, such as in stars. 2. **Zinc**: - **Spectral Features**: Zinc's absorption lines are present in the ultraviolet and visible regions but are less prominent and not as widely recognized as hydrogen's. They often require high-resolution spectroscopy to be clearly identified. - **Applications**: Identified in metal vapor lamps and various industrial applications. 3. **Cadmium**: - **Spectral Features**: Similar to zinc, cadmium has its own set of absorption lines, primarily in the ultraviolet and visible ranges. These lines are more complex due to cadmium's multiple electron transitions. - **Applications**: Used in specialized lighting and electronics, but its spectral lines are less commonly encountered in basic spectroscopy. **Conclusion**: Given the options and assuming the absorption spectrum in question features prominent, easily identifiable lines in the visible region (particularly matching the Balmer series), the most likely element being represented is **hydrogen**. If you have specific details or an image of the absorption spectrum, providing that information would allow for a more accurate identification.