What type of light spectra can be produced by gases in low pressure conditions?

Gases at low pressure emit light when their atoms or molecules become excited and then return to lower energy states. This process results in the emission of photons at specific wavelengths that correspond to the differences in energy levels of the electrons within the atoms. The light emitted creates what is known as an emission spectrum, which consists of distinct lines of color, or "emission lines," corresponding to those specific wavelengths.

In the case of low pressure gases, as individual atoms or molecules emit light, the resulting emission spectrum shows these unique wavelengths, rather than a continuous range of colors found in other types of spectra. This characteristic makes emission spectra best suited to identify the presence of specific elements within the gas.

Therefore, emission spectra produced by gases in low pressure conditions are crucial for applications such as spectroscopy, where scientists analyze light from distant stars or elements in laboratory experiments to gather information about their composition and behavior.