energy level diagram

An energy level diagram visually shows the possible energy states of electrons within an atom or molecule. Each line represents a specific energy level; electrons can exist in these levels, but not in between. When an electron absorbs energy, it jumps to a higher level; when it releases energy, it falls back down, often by emitting light. These diagrams help us understand how atoms absorb and emit light, which is essential in fields like spectroscopy and understanding chemical reactions. Overall, they illustrate the discrete, quantized nature of electron energies within matter.