Question

If an electron jumps from the n=2 orbit to the n=3 orbit, then what kind of spectrum will be produced: a continuous spectrum, an absorption line spectrum, or an emission line spectrum?

Answer 1

Let us consider hydrogen like atom. Refer to possible transitions shown for hydrogen atom in the figure below

In the figure an electronic transition from `n=2\ "to"\ n=3` has been depicted.

Observe the energy level as shown for various values of principal quantum number `n`. As the values are shown we see that for this transition electron jumps from Energy level of `E_2=-3.40\ eV` to Energy level of `E_3=-1.51\ eV.`

We see that `E_3>E_2`. Therefore, if a photon of appropriate wavelength happens to fly past a hydrogen atom in its `n=2` state, the hydrogen atom will absorb the photon and hop up to the `n=3` Energy level. As such it will be absorption line spectrum.