A scattered spectrum of light emitted by a compound can be described as continuous, continuous with rainbow-like features, or discontinuous, depending on the specific characteristics of the compound and the scattering process involved.
In general, when light interacts with matter, it can be scattered in various ways. Rayleigh scattering, for example, occurs when the size of the scattering particles is much smaller than the wavelength of light. This type of scattering produces a continuous spectrum of scattered light, but it does not exhibit rainbow-like features. Rayleigh scattering is responsible for the blue color of the sky.
On the other hand, if the scattering particles are larger, such as raindrops or water droplets in the atmosphere, a phenomenon known as Mie scattering occurs. Mie scattering can produce a more pronounced scattering of different wavelengths of light, resulting in a scattered spectrum that exhibits rainbow-like features. This phenomenon is responsible for the formation of rainbows.
Additionally, there are other forms of scattering, such as Raman scattering and fluorescence, which can also lead to specific patterns in the scattered spectrum depending on the properties of the compound involved.
Therefore, the specific nature of the scattered spectrum depends on the scattering process and the properties of the compound, and it can range from continuous without rainbow-like features to continuous with rainbow-like features or even discontinuous in some cases.