Atomic Emission Spectra Lab Report

AP Chemistry

Sarah Hutfilz

11/20/15

Table of Contents
Title..1
Table of Contents.2
Purpose.3
Hypothesis3
Materials..3
Procedure.3
Data..3
Prelab Questions..3
Data Analysis...4
Postlab Questions.6
Conclusion...7

Purpose
To gain some understanding of the relationship between emission spectra and atomic
structure
Hypothesis
If I hold a Q-tip soaked with a solution of an element to a flame, then the flame will
change color because the electrons in the element are being excited and then they fall back to
their ground state, releasing light.
Materials
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

Spectroscope
Solution of strontium
Solution of potassium
Solution of magnesium
Solution of barium
Solution of copper
Solution of calcium
Flame

Procedure
1. Calibrate the known values of mercury against the ones you find in the spectroscope
to get the calibration curve. You will use this equation to find the true values for all
the wavelengths for all colors.
2. Turn on the gas and light it with a match.
3. Soak one end of a Q-tip in a solution of strontium.
4. Hold that same end into the flame and have someone else look in the spectroscope at
the flame.
5. Record the colors and their associated wavelengths in the chart provided.
6. Repeat steps 3 through 5 with the rest of the solutions.
Data
I obtained the results from the spectroscope for mercury and I found the calibration curve
to adjust all the other values for the lab. I also found all the wavelengths of the other solutions.
Prelab Questions
1. Name the colors of visible light, beginning with that of lowest energy (lowest
wavelength).
Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet
2. Distinguish between absorption and emission of energy.

3.

4.
5.

6.

7.
8.

Emission is the ability of a substance to give off light when it interacts with heat.
Absorption is the exact opposite, where energy, light, or radiation is absorbed by the
electrons of a particular matter.
A system proposed by the US Navy for underwater submarine communication, called
ELF, operates with a frequency of 76Hz. What is the wavelength of the radiation in
meters? In miles? (1 mile = 1.61 km)
2.53*10^-7 meters, 1.57*10^-10 miles
What is the energy in joules of the frequency in question 3?
5.04*10^-32 Joules
Red and green light have wavelengths of about 650 nm and 490 nm, respectively. Which
light has the higher frequency-red or green? Which light has the higher energy, red or
green?
Green has the higher frequency; green also has the highest energy.
Mg emits radiation at 285 nm. Could a spectroscope be used to detect this emission?
No because a spectroscope only detects visible light, which is from about 400nm to about
700nm.
If boron emits radiation at 518 nm, what color will boron impart to a flame?
Green
From the wavelengths and colors given for the mercury emission spectrum in this
experiment, construct a graphical representation of the mercury emission spectrum as it
would appear on the scale of a spectroscope.

Data Analysis
1. Obtain a calibration (best fit line) adjustment for spectroscope from calibration curve of
mercury spectrum.
0.0000103X^3-0.153X^2+75.9X-12064.8
2. Calculate error for Hydrogen lines.
Didnt do this part
3. Translate scale readings for metals into wavelengths using calibration curve.
Element
Strontium

Potassium
Magnesium

Flame Color
Red
Yellow
Green
Green
Purple
Red
Orange

Spectroscope #s
630
600
550
550
440
630
615
4

Wavelength (nm)
781.341
643.2
534.325
534.325
484.352
781.341
703.91

Yellow
Green
Blue
Purple
Red
Green
Purple
Red
Green
Purple
Red
Yellow
Blue
Purple

Barium

Copper

Calcium

600
550
500
440
630
550
440
630
550
440
630
600
500
440

4. Convert wavelength from nanometers to meters.

Wavelength (nm)
Wavelength (m)
Red

781.341

7.81341*10^-7

Orange 703.94

7.0394*10^-7

Yellow 643.2

6.432*10^-7

Green 534.325

5.34325*10^-7

Blue

5.102*10^-7

510.2

Purple 484.352

4.84352*10^-7

5. Calculate the frequency associated with each wavelength.

Red
3.84*10^14
Orange
4.26*10^14
Yellow
4.66*10^14
Green
5.61*10^14
Blue
5.88*10^14
Purple
6.19*10^14
6. Evaluate the amount of Energy for each wavelength.
Red
2.55*10^-19
Orange
2.82*10^-19
Yellow
3.09*10^-19
Green
3.72*10^-19
Blue
3.90*10^-19
Purple
4.10*10^-19
7. Describe the quantum number for a given energy emission.
Red
4.31*10^-9
Orange
4.10*10^-9
5

643.2
534.325
510.2
484.352
781.341
534.325
484.352
781.341
534.325
484.352
781.341
643.2
510.2
484.352

Yellow
3.92*10^-9
Green
3.57*10^-9
Blue
3.49*10^-9
Purple
3.40*10^-9
8. Calculate error and percent error for each wavelength.
Red
24.02%
Orange
14.46%
Yellow
7.2%
Green
4.67%
Blue
2.04%
Purple
10.08%
9. Identify Unknown based on best match.
I didnt do this part of the lab.
Postlab Questions
1. What is the purpose of the slit in the spectroscope?
To put the flame there so that light can travel to the back of the spectroscope, where it is
defracted by a prism. The defracted light then travels back to the front of the spectroscope
where the bands are placed on the wavelength scale.
2. Why is the spectroscope scale illuminated?
So we can see where the colors of the defracted light are.
3. Why was the emission spectrum of mercury used to calibrate the spectroscope?
The emission wavelengths for mercury are very precisely known.
4. Could the emission of some other element be used to calibrate the spectroscope?
It could, but the calibration curve will most likely not be as accurate as the one with
mercury.
5. In addition to the spectral lines that you observed in the emission spectrum of hydrogen,
several other lines are also present in other regions of the spectrum. Calculate the
wavelengths of the n=4n=1 and n=4n=3 transitions and indicate in which regions of
the spectrum these transitions would occur (what wavelength and type of radiation?).
6. Of the metal ions tested, sodium gives the brightest and most consistent color in the
flame. Do you think that potassium could be detected visually in the presence of sodium
burning in this mixture in a flame? Could you detect both with a spectroscope?
I do think potassium could be detected visually in the presence of sodium because sodium
is just a really bright yellow, whereas potassium is green and purple, so it would
definitely show among sodium. I think you can detect both with a spectroscope.
7. The minimum energy required to break the oxygen-oxygen bond is 495 kJ/mol. What is
the largest wavelength of radiation that possesses enough energy to break the O-O bond?
What type of electromagnetic radiation is this? What layer in Earths atmosphere protects
us from this type of radiation? BONUS- draw the molecular structure of this gas.
10^-8 meters; ultraviolet radiation; ozone layer.
Conclusion
6

Spectroscopy can be used to determine an unknown element. By looking at its

spectroscopy wavelengths, we can compare it to another elements wavelengths and see if it is
the same or different from that element and compare it to another one. If it is unlike any known
element, then it could be a new one. Spectroscopy can also be used to determine the energy
levels of electrons that are contained in that element.