this post was submitted on 20 Sep 2023
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While it’s true that atoms emit light in specific wavelengths when excited electrons drop energy levels, this isn’t the phenomenon most children would associate with something “having a color”. If you shine a white light at a yellow piece of paper, the paper would appear yellow and be described as yellow. If you shine a green light at yellow paper, it appears green, but most children would still say the paper is “yellow paper” that just looks green because of the light.
Similarly, if you ask what the natural color of a TV screen is, I think most people would say “black” even though depending on the state of the components inside it can produce different colors.
By extension, hydrogen atoms’ color would be naturally black, but if you energize it properly it can emit reddish light. That still doesn’t mean the atoms themselves have a reddish color.
(Not the same person)
I disagree, but I appreciate the reasoning behind your opinion.
If a lot of water molecules look blue, then what, if not the water molecules, have that color? Just because it's faint doesn't make it colorless. (Water is molecules, but the same applies to atoms)
Edit: also I would definitely call a low pressure sodium lamp orange, even if it requires electricity to run it.
Hydrogen atom color white would be blue. That's why our atmosphere is blue.