If a gas is excited by high voltage to produce a discharge and the light is examined in a spectrometer
Answer Details
When a gas is excited by high voltage to produce a discharge and the light is examined in a spectrometer, an emission spectrum is observed. This is because the excited gas atoms emit energy in the form of light of specific wavelengths as they return to their ground state. These emitted wavelengths are characteristic of the element or compound being examined and appear as bright lines in the spectrum. Therefore, the emission spectrum can be used to identify the elements present in the gas being examined.