Oxygen glows what color?

Oxygen glows what color?

• A. Red
• B. Blue
• C. Green
• D. Yellow

Answer: (C)

When atoms are energized, they emit light at specific wavelengths as electrons drop back to lower energy levels. For oxygen, one of the strongest visible emissions comes from a transition that produces green light around 557 nanometers. That’s why the glow from excited oxygen—seen in phenomena like the aurora or airglow—is commonly green. Different oxygen transitions can produce other colors, but the dominant visible glow under typical conditions is green, which is why that answer is correct. Blue glows are usually due to nitrogen or other species, and red lines come from other, less prominent oxygen transitions.

When atoms are energized, they emit light at specific wavelengths as electrons drop back to lower energy levels. For oxygen, one of the strongest visible emissions comes from a transition that produces green light around 557 nanometers. That’s why the glow from excited oxygen—seen in phenomena like the aurora or airglow—is commonly green. Different oxygen transitions can produce other colors, but the dominant visible glow under typical conditions is green, which is why that answer is correct. Blue glows are usually due to nitrogen or other species, and red lines come from other, less prominent oxygen transitions.