Emission Spectra Lab

Lab Questions
How can we use spectra to determine the chemical composition of a star?
How can the chemical composition help us to determine the life stage of a star?
Background - Answer the following questions before you begin the lab.
1. How are emission spectra different from absorption spectra?
a. Emission spectra and absorption are different, because emission is produced by
elements and compounds. As well as they produce colored lines with many dark
spaces between. Absorption is the colors that line up directly with the dark spaces
in the emission spectra, they are also produced by stars.
2. How are spectra used as fingerprints for elements, compounds, and stars?
a. Each element emits a different spectra. Each one is special to the specific
element, none of them are the same.
3. Indicate the wavelength range of each of the following colors:
Color

Wavelength

Red

620-700 nm

Orange

590-620 nm

Yellow

570-590 nm

Green

495-570 nm

Blue

450-495 nm

Violet

400-450 nm

4. Which type of gas is most abundant in young stars?

a. Hydrogen gas is most abundant.
5. Why do we see heavier gases like Hg and Ne in older stars?
a. The star has used all its hydrogen, and only the larger elements, such as mercury
and neon are left.
Directions
1. Using a spectroscope, observe the spectra of the elements provided in class.
2. Draw the spectra of the elements on the handout provided.

Analysis
1. Match your observed spectra to the samples provided.
a. See chart below
2. Which of the spectra you observed are most likely to be seen in young stars?
a. The two stars that are most likely to be young stars are 2 and 5, because they are
hydrogen.
3. Which of the spectra you observed are most likely to be seen in red giants?
a. The two red giants are most likely to be spectra 1, Mercury, and spectra 4, Neon.
This is because these are the elements in the old star.

Observed Spectra

Samples A-D

Element

Mercury

Hydrogen

Helium

Neon

Hydrogen

Conclusions
Answer the two lab questions. Please write in paragraph form.
How can we use spectra to determine the chemical composition of a star?
How can the chemical composition help us to determine the life stage of a star?
You are able to use the spectras to determine the chemical composition of a star, because each
star emits a different spectra. Making it possible to determine the different elements in the
stars. This is what makes determining the composition easier. Using this information, the
chemical composition, you can determine the life stage of the star as well. This is because each
star with the smaller elements, such as hydrogen and helium, the stars are younger than the
stars with bigger elements, such as neon and mercury.