CHEM 121 glossary
Electromagnetic spectrum
The full range of light, ordered by wavelength: gamma rays, X-rays, ultraviolet, visible, infrared, microwave and radio. All travel at in a vacuum; shorter wavelength means higher frequency and more energetic photons.
Example
A 100 nm UV photon carries J (1196 kJ/mol, enough to break any bond), while a 10 μm infrared photon carries only about 12 kJ/mol, enough to make molecules vibrate.