What does an absorption spectrum show when viewed through a spectroscope?

An absorption spectrum reveals a pattern of dark vertical lines or bands when analyzed through a spectroscope. This phenomenon occurs when light passes through a cooler gas or element, which absorbs specific wavelengths corresponding to its atomic structure. As a result, the light emitted looks like a continuous spectrum, but certain wavelengths are missing, creating dark lines at those points. This is a fundamental principle in spectroscopy, allowing scientists to identify elements in a material based on the unique absorption patterns of their light.

The presence of dark lines is characteristic of absorption spectra and provides crucial information about the composition of the substance being analyzed. The other options describe different types of spectral phenomena: a continuous rainbow of colors would represent an emission spectrum; bright flashes of light may indicate a type of emission but are not representative of an absorption spectrum; and a solid color without variations suggests no absorption or emission happening at all.