ATOMIC SPECTROSCOPY

CHMY 141-008

TA: MANU SRIVATHSA

02/14/22

INTRODUCTION

Atomic spectroscopy is the study of how electromagnetic radiation is absorbed and emitted by

atoms. The electromagnetic radiation is very distinct to the particular atom, therefore the

detection is always very accurate. This experiment aimed to utilize a spectroscope to observe the

emission spectrum of hydrogen and helium, explore the spectra of these excited gases, determine

a wavelength scale using an already known spectrum, and calculate the energies of the Balmer

series of electron transitions using the hydrogen spectrum. The importance of this experiment or

its application is to determine the composition of stars and is also used widely in astrology.

PROCEDURE

A spectroscope was pointed at a white light bulb (incandescent) and viewed through the

diffraction grating. The observed spectrum ranged from 400nm to 700nm. The colors observed

were red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple. After this was done, the same procedure was

carried out but the spectroscope was pointed at the fluorescent lights on our cell phone and that

gave us a different spectrum ranging from 500nm to 700nm. It was observed that the colors seen

were less than that of the previous spectrum. The colors observed were red, orange, yellow,

green, and light blue. The reason for the difference seen in the two spectra is caused by the

difference in the light spectra and light wavelengths. Fluorescent lights have a shorter
wavelength than incandescent light and deliver a different kind of light to the eye. Fluorescent

lights produce an emission spectrum, while incandescent light produces a continuous spectrum.

Next, a helium spectrum was projected and looked at through the spectroscope by making use of

a webcam. The zero point of the ruler is placed on the bright line in the middle of the projection.

The distance between the center of each major line in the spectrum was measured and recorded

to the nearest millimeter. Six major lines should be seen, and the wavelengths of the expected six

lines are 447.1, 471.3, 492.2, 501.5, 587.5, and 667.8 nanometers. The wavelength, color, and

the distance measurement (mm) were recorded. After the helium spectrum values were recorded,

a different gas tube was set up containing hydrogen gas. The four major lines observed and the

wavelength, color, and the distance were measured and recorded.

DATA

HELIUM SPECTRUM

Distance (x)mm Wavelength (λ)nm Color

334 447.1 Purple

379 471.3 Blue

400 492.3 Blue

424 501.5 Light blue

505 587.5 Yellow

584 667.8 Red

Table 1. Observed values for the helium spectrum.

 Measured distance in mm vs Wavelength in nm
700

650 f(x) = 0.907671053472178 x + 130.64263559701

R² = 0.987408809145154
Helium wavelength in nm

600

550

500

450

400
300 350 400 450 500 550 600
Observed distance in mm

Figure 1. Graph of helium spectrum

HYDROGEN SPECTRUM

Distance (x), mm Wavelength (λ), nm Color

340 439.258 Blue

365 461.951 Blue

410 502.797 Cyan

570 648.029 Pink

Table 2. These are the recorded values of the hydrogen spectrum.

DATA ANALYSIS AND CALCULATIONS

Y = 0.9077x + 130.64 (equation 1)

This is the formula for the equation of the helium graph line, and it was used to get the

wavelengths of the hydrogen spectrum. First, the x values were inputted into the equation to

get the wavelength of the hydrogen spectrum. For the first x value = 340

∴ Y =0.9077 (340 )+ 130.64=439.258 nm

 hc
E = hv = (equation 2)
λ

Here, the wavelength calculated from the previous question was used in equation 2 to find the

energy of the hydrogen atom during its transitions.

−34 8
hc (6.626 ∙ 10 )∗(3 ∙10 )
E=
λ
= = 4.5×10−19 J.
439.258

(equation 3)

Using the energy value that was calculated, the Ryberg constant is determined.

−18 1 1
Ryberg equation: ∆ E=−2.18 ×10 J( − ) (equation 4)
n f ni
2 2

Therefore ∆ E=4.5 × 10−19 J

−18 1 1
4.5×10−19J = −2.18 ×10 J( − )
n f ni
2 2

n f =2 =4 , ni =6 =36
2 2
2 2

∴( 1 − 1 ) = 1 1 = 2.025×10−18 J
∆E 4.5 ×10 J
−19

nf n i ( − )
4 36
The average of the four values was calculated using the formula below:
2 2

AVERAGE OF FOUR VALUES =

SUMMATION OF FOUR VALUES

(equation 5)
4

= =2.0955×10−18 J .
−18
8.382× 10
4
Using equation 6, the percentage error was able to be determined.

%error =
(CALCULATED VALUE−ACTUAL VALUE)
× 100
(equation 6)
ACTUAL VALUE
= ×100 = -7.1%
(2.025−2.18)
2.18

nf ni (x),
1 1 ∆ E( y),J
−

0.14 3.06×10−19
2 2

0.19 3.95×10−19

0.21 4.30×10−19

0.22 4.50 ×10−19

Rygerb equation of Hydrogren

5.00E-19
4.50E-19
f(x) = 1.76249674264604E-18 x + 6.1961865965633E-20
4.00E-19 R² = 0.999043816376684
3.50E-19
3.00E-19
Energy

2.50E-19
2.00E-19
1.50E-19
1.00E-19
5.00E-20
0.00E+00
0.13 0.14 0.15 0.16 0.17 0.18 0.19 0.2 0.21 0.22 0.23
Transition levels

FIGURE 2: GRAPH OF HYDROGEN

The value calculated for my averaging was -3.66%, and the value gotten from the graphing

method gave a -8.66%. Based on this analysis, the graphing method gave me a lower percentage

error. The graphing method is more accurate because the averaging method treats all values

equally.

CONCLUSION

For the first part of the lab, the aim was to observe the different spectra that can be produced

from different sources. After the experiment was performed, different sources produced different

spectra and the reason for the difference in spectra produced was noted. The incandescent light

produced a continuous spectrum as expected while the fluorescent light produced an emission

spectrum. At the end of the experiment, it was concluded that different sources of light emit

different spectrum.

The later part of this experiment involved using the hydrogen spectrum to find the energies of

Balmer series electron transitions. The energy values that were calculated was close to the actual

value of Ryberg’s constant with a percent error of -7.1% on the first value. The percentage error

gradually increased as the energy values increased. In order to get a better result in this lab, its

advised to do the prelab before class to get a better understanding of the topic.