Atomic Emission Spectra Lab
Ms. Wilson
Chem, Blk 10
31 October 2012
Atomic Emission Spectra Lab Atomic spectroscopy is the determination of elemental composition by its electromagnetic or mass spectrum. An arrangement of all wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation is called the spectrum; the plural being spectra. As light passes through a prism, the frequencies of light emitted by an element separate into separate lines to give the atomic emission spectrum of the element. There are two spectrums in the lab: the incandescent and fluorescent. An incandescent light is a white light emitting light as a result of being heated. Fluorescent light is a black light, and emission of light by a substance that has absorbed light or other electromagnetic radiation. It is a form of luminescence. Every element emits a specific spectrum. To summarize details in the experiment and how it is related to knowledge of atomic emission spectra, reviewing the steps in the lab is necessary. After viewing the incandescent and fluorescent spectrum, the gases and the colors emitted, the substances and the observations of the flames and spectrums were completed. For the first unknown gas, I concluded it was SrCl2, because the flame was bright orange and the spectrum was yellow with little red. For the second unknown, the conclusion was NaCl because the flame was orange and the spectrum was orange, green, and purple. After making these conclusions, the question was raised if two elements could have the same spectrum. The answer is no; each element has a series of ‘shells’ that contain the electrons. When an electron moves from higher to lower orbital’s it releases quanta of energy. Each transition is different. Two possible sources of error are looking at the spectrum incorrectly and putting the incorrect gas in the tube. Two possible improvements for the lab would be more trials of each gas or substance and getting more advanced devices to see the spectrums.
Chem, Blk 10
31 October 2012
Atomic Emission Spectra Lab Atomic spectroscopy is the determination of elemental composition by its electromagnetic or mass spectrum. An arrangement of all wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation is called the spectrum; the plural being spectra. As light passes through a prism, the frequencies of light emitted by an element separate into separate lines to give the atomic emission spectrum of the element. There are two spectrums in the lab: the incandescent and fluorescent. An incandescent light is a white light emitting light as a result of being heated. Fluorescent light is a black light, and emission of light by a substance that has absorbed light or other electromagnetic radiation. It is a form of luminescence. Every element emits a specific spectrum. To summarize details in the experiment and how it is related to knowledge of atomic emission spectra, reviewing the steps in the lab is necessary. After viewing the incandescent and fluorescent spectrum, the gases and the colors emitted, the substances and the observations of the flames and spectrums were completed. For the first unknown gas, I concluded it was SrCl2, because the flame was bright orange and the spectrum was yellow with little red. For the second unknown, the conclusion was NaCl because the flame was orange and the spectrum was orange, green, and purple. After making these conclusions, the question was raised if two elements could have the same spectrum. The answer is no; each element has a series of ‘shells’ that contain the electrons. When an electron moves from higher to lower orbital’s it releases quanta of energy. Each transition is different. Two possible sources of error are looking at the spectrum incorrectly and putting the incorrect gas in the tube. Two possible improvements for the lab would be more trials of each gas or substance and getting more advanced devices to see the spectrums.