Emission of Light & Atomic Models

1



Objective
At the end of this activity you should be able to:

o Explain what photons are, and be able to calculate their energies given either their
frequency or wavelength.

o Order the common kinds of radiation (UV, visible light, infrared) in the
electromagnetic spectrum according to their wavelengths or energy.

o Calculate the wavelength of electromagnetic radiation given its frequency or its
frequency given its wavelength.

o Be able to compare and contrast different models for the hydrogen atom.

o Distinguish between conceptual and physical models.

o Discuss how the emission spectrum of hydrogen gas was used to support (or refute) a
given atomic model.

o Explain how electronic transitions between quantized energy-levels are responsible for
the emission of photons of light with different energies.

o Collect emission data and apply atomic models to explain the electronic structure of
elements like hydrogen and helium.

These learning objectives are assessed in the post-lab Carmen quiz.
There is no laboratory report.





1
Piepaieu by Bi. Teu N. Claik, the 0hio State 0niveisity, Bepaitment of Chemistiy anu
Biochemistiy. If you have questions, comments oi suggestions, his contact infoimation is
claik.789osu.euu.
Introduction
When light from the Sun or white light is passed through a
prism it produces a rainbow of different colors. This has been
known for centuries, with Isaac Newton making significant
advances in the area of Opticks in the 1700s by investigating
how light is reflected, refracted, dispersed, etc.

However, something very different occurs when light from a
single element is emitted and passed through a prism. In this
case only a small number of discrete lines are observed. Even
more remarkably, the pattern of these lines is a defining
characteristic of each element. What happens when light is
emitted from an element like hydrogen? As you will see in this
investigation, the answering of this question has led to profound
insights into the electronic structure of the atom and, in turn, our
modern understanding of chemistry.














The emission of photons (particles of light) from atoms is thought to occur in the following
way: First, the atom absorbs energy and an electron moves to a higher energy level, or
excited state. When the electron eventually returns to a lower energy state energy is
released. The specific amount of energy released corresponds to the difference between the
energy levels. When this energy difference corresponds to visible light then our eyes can
observe the photons. It is also possible the emitted photons will have energies we cannot see,
such as in the infrared or ultraviolet regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Atoms can absorb energy in various forms (heat, electrical, radiant) and subsequently
emit photons. Today, in this investigation, you will complete activities that involve radiant
energy (photons of light). In another laboratory experiment, later this term, you will return to
this topic and investigate the role of heat and electrical excitations. In each case the emission
of photons is similar, although different energy levels and different elements may be
investigated.

"#$%&%$' ()**+,$ -.$%*/$+0 $%*+
1) Computei Simulation: Nouels of the
hyuiogen atom.

Woiksheet. About 8u minutes.
2) Emission spectia of hyuiogen anu
helium iecoiueu with a uischaige
lamp anu spectioscope.
Completeu in
lab.
Bata collection 1u
minutes. Bata analysis
~Su minutes.

1)$/2 2/3 $%*+45 6)78.

"22 %,92/3 /#$%&%$%+. */' 3+ 0%.#7..+0 :%$6 #2/..*/$+. /,0;)8 #)*<2+$+0 %, / .*/22
=8)7<> The teaching assistant will help manage youi time.


Laboratory Instrumentation
The instrument used to view line spectra is a
spectroscope. Photons emitted from the atoms in their
excited states strike the prism that separates them based
on their particular wavelength. The resulting spectrum
is superimposed on a scaled and is viewed through the
eyepiece. Note, only the visible light portion of the
spectrum is observed since the detector is the human
eye.






Scientific Models


?6'.%#/2 *)0+2 )@ / 3/#$+8%7*>


(),#+<$7/2 *)0+2 )@ $6+
A:+/$6+8B>
What is / .#%+,$%@%# *)0+2. Sometimes
scientists constiuct <6'.%#/2 *)0+2. that
iepiesent an object on a uiffeient scale. Nouels
of an amoeba oi bacteiium (things veiy small
maue laigei) oi the solai system (something
veiy laige maue smallei) aie examples of
physical mouels.
Scientists also uevise #),#+<$7/2 *)0+2.. A
weathei map is an example of a conceptual
mouel. The weathei map communicates some
aspects of the weathei, e.g. the tempeiatuie,
aieas of high anu low piessuie, piecipitation, etc.
It allows one to make pieuictions (will in iain in
Columbus tomoiiow.) anu makes sense of a
complex system. It is not, howevei, a physical
iepiesentation.

"$)*%# *)0+2. /8+ #),#+<$7/2. They aim
to communicate uiffeient chaiacteiistics anu
make pieuictions foi something that cannot be
uiiectly obseiveu.



Procedure

Part 1) Computer Simulation Models of the Hydrogen Atom

0ne of the most tantalizing puzzles at the beginning of the 19uus was how to uesciibe the
atom. In chaptei 2 you leaineu about sub-atomic paiticles like piotons, neutions anu
elections. With this activity you will continue youi own exploiation.

This begins by fiist obseiving a simulateu light spectium of hyuiogen. You will then look
at spectia pieuicteu by uiffeient *)0+2. of the atom. The mouels you will test incluue:
}ohn Balton's !"##"$%& !$##
mouel
}.}. Thomson's (#)* ()&&"+,
mouel
Einest Rutheifoiu's -#$.."/$#
01#$% 02.34* mouel
Niels Bohi's 054## mouel
Louis ueBioglie's 6#4/3%1+
7$84 mouel
Eiwin Schiouingei's 9)$+3)*
:4/5$+"/$# mouel

C)0+2. )@ $6+ D'08)=+, "$)* E%*72/$%),
?8)#+078+ /,0 F7+.$%),.
1. Stait the C)0+2. )@ $6+ D'08)=+, "$)* simulation.
2. Tuin on the 75"34 light gun. 16+ :6%$+ 2%=6$ %. .6%,%,= %,$) / $8/,.</8+,$ 3)G
#),$/%,%,= 6'08)=+, =/.> 16%. %. $6+ H93)G> 16+ =/. *)2+#72+. 6/&+ 3++,
.+</8/$+0 .) 6'08)=+, /$)*. /8+ <8+.+,$I 37$ $6+ .#%+,$%.$. #/,,)$ .++
$6+.+ %,0%&%07/2 /$)*. J6+,#+ $6+ AHBK> L$ %. <)..%32+I 6):+&+8I $) .+,0
2%=6$ %,$) $6+ 3)G /,0 8+#)80 $6+ 2%=6$ $6/$ %. +*%$$+0 @8)* $6+ 3)G>
3. To iecoiu the photons of light emitteu fiom the tianspaient box check the E6):
E<+#$8)*+$+8 box. Notice that the coloi of the photons being emitteu fiom the box
coiiesponus to a wavelength of 0v, visible, oi IR iauiation.
4. In the M%=6$ (),$8)2., click on :1+1/5%1*$3"/. Notice that the incoming photons aie
now all the same coloi. A spectium sliuei appeais that allows you to change the
eneigy of the incoming photons. Nove the sliuei acioss the spectium fiom ultiaviolet
(0v) uown to the infiaieu (IR). Notice how the coloi of the lamp anu the photons
moving up the scieen change.





Common calculations involve converting between energy, frequency, and wavelength.
The following are useful expressions:
E=h! Plancks relationship for the energy of a photon where h = 6.63x10
-34
J s.
c="! The speed of a wave is equal to the product of the wavelength x frequency,

1 nm = 1x10
-9
m
The speed of light c= 3.00x10
8
m/s in a vacuum.

If a photon of monochiomatic
light has a wavelength of 94 nm,
what is its fiequency (expiesseu
in units of s
-1
).

What is the eneigy of this
photon (in joules).



What is the eneigy of 1 mol of
these photons (in k}mol).







5. Switch the M%=6$ (),$8)2. back to 75"34 light
6. Nove the 0#1;<=$.3 sliuei all the way ovei to 0#1;
7. Watch the photons caiefully. Nost of the light gun photons pass thiough the box of
hyuiogen unaffecteu. 0ccasionally something happens in the .-box anu a photon is
emitteu. This emission is iecoiueu by the spectiometei.
8. Nove the 0#1;<=$.3 sliuei all the way ovei to =$.3, N+.+$ the E<+#$8)*+$+8, anu let
the simulation iun until the ieu column is neai the top (it will take a couple of
minutes). Then, use the Spectiometei cameia to take a snapshot of the -G<+8%*+,$.
This is the expeiimental emission spectium foi atomic hyuiogen. (If you aie woiking
with a paitnei, have one computei collect the spectium anu woik aheau on the seconu
computei).
9. Besciibe oi sketch (in the box below) the expeiimental emission spectium foi atomic
hyuiogen. Incluue in youi uesciiption the /1#1%. >%4,"1+. 1? 354 4#4/3%1*$,+43"/
.@4/3%)*A, estimateu ;$84#4+,35., anu %4#$3"84 +)*B4%. of stackeu coloieu balls. These
coloieu balls coiiesponu to photons emitteu by the .-box.








The emission spectium foi hyuiogen is a veiy impoitant expeiimental obseivation useu
to suppoit (oi iefute) uiffeient mouels of the hyuiogen atom. Scientists #/,,)$ "look"
insiue the .-box of hyuiogen anu actually see an atom. Insteau, they constiuct theoiies
anu conceptual mouels to explain obseivations ielateu to the atom. Nouels can be testeu
with expeiiments to leain if the mouel is useful foi pieuicting how natuie behaves.

OPQN 1"ER %, $6%. .%*72/$%), %. $) +G/*%,+ 0%@@+8+,$ *)0+2. )@ $6+ 6'08)=+, /$)*>
O)7 :%22 SK +G/*%,+ $6+ *)0+2I 5K .++ 6): $6+ *)0+2 <8)07#+. /, +*%..%),
.<+#$87* @)8 6'08)=+,I /,0 TK 0+#%0+ :6%#6 *)0+2 /=8++. 3+.$ :%$6 $6+
+G<+8%*+,$/2 0/$/> It will be helpful to keep the expeiimental spectium (the snapshot)
available foi compaiisons.












U/2$),V. W%22%/80 W/22 C)0+2
10. In Chaptei 2 you leaineu that }ohn Balton pioposeu that an atom was simply a veiy
tiny haiu ball. To see this simulateu, in the top left coinei, switch fiom -G<+8%*+,$
to ?8+0%#$ anu highlight the W%22%/80 W/22 mouel.
0se woius oi a uiawing to
uesciibe this mouel of the
hyuiogen atom. What is
the atom like.




What happens when
photons inteiact with the
atom in this mouel.

A) The photons aie absoibeu by the atom.
B) The photons aie absoibeu, anu then othei
photons aie emitteu.
C) The photons uiviue into smallei photons.
B) The photons ueflect off of the atom.
Foi this mouel is theie an
emission spectium.




Why uo you think the Balton mouel uoes ,)$ incluue elections.
(Ciicle all coiiect answeis)
A) Balton thought elections weie unimpoitant.
B) Balton placeu elections in the nucleus.
C) The smallest paiticle in Balton's mouel is the atom, which is inuivisible. It uoes
not incluue sub-atomic paiticles like elections.
B) Elections weie uiscoveieu by }.}. Thomson Su yeais aftei Balton's ueath.










16)*.),V. ?27* ?700%,= C)0+2
0se woius oi a uiawing to
uesciibe this mouel of the
hyuiogen atom. What is the
atom like.




What happens when photons
inteiact with the atom in this
mouel.

(Ciicle all coiiect answeis)
A. The photon bounces off of the atom.
B. The election changes position when
stiuck by the photon.
C. A photon is absoibeu anu a uiffeient
photon is emitteu.
B. The positive-chaigeu pioton "glue"
inteiacts with the photon.
E. All emitteu photons have the same eneigy.
Besciibe the iesulting
emission spectium. Is it
"iight".
(You shoulu let the simulation
iun foi ~1 minute with white
light, then take a snapshot &
save it).


N7$6+8@)80V. (2/..%#/2 E)2/8 E'.$+* C)0+2
11. Now click on anu select next mouel, Rutheifoiu's (2/..%#/2 E)2/8 E'.$+* mouel.
This is the final atomic mouel you uiscusseu in chaptei 2.
Besciibe this mouel of the
hyuiogen atom. What is
the atom like.
(Ciicle all coiiect answeis)
A. Theie is a nucleus containing a pioton.
B. Theie is an election ciicling the nucleus, like a
planet aiounu the Sun.
C. The election looks like a wave.

The Classical Solai System Nouel has a .%=,%@%#/,$ .6)8$#)*%,=. You may neeu to iun
the simulation at a slow speeu, oi pause it, to finu it. What is the shoitcoming of the solai
system mouel.
A) Too many aie photons emitteu in the visible iegion of the emission spectium.
B) Too many photons aie emitteu in the 0v iegion.
C) The atom is not stable. The election loses eneigy, spiials into the nucleus anu
the atom is uestioyeu. In this mouel atoms shoulu not exist.
12. Switch to the W)68 mouel, click on E6): +2+#$8), +,+8=' 2+&+2 in the uppei iight
hanu coinei, anu set the speeu to 0#1;C
DEF6G F54 ?1##1;"+, H)4.3"1+. $%4 /%"3"/$# 31 21) )+&4%.3$+&"+, 354 !15% *1&4#C
F$I4 21)% 3"*4J &"./).. 354* ;"35 /#$..*$34.J $+& $.I H)4.3"1+.K
W)68V. C)0+2
Besciibe this mouel of the
hyuiogen atom. What is
the atom like.
(Ciicle all coiiect answeis)
A) Theie is a nucleus wheie the pioton iesiues.
B) Theie is an election in motion in a ciiculai oibit.
C) Theie aie seveial possible oibits the election
may follow.
B) All of the above.
What happens when
photons inteiact with the
atom. Boes the election
move.









Besciibe the iesulting
emission spectium. Is it
"iight".
JO)7 .6)720 2+$ $6+
.%*72/$%), 87, @)8 4X
*%,7$+. ), @/.$ $)
#)*</8+ :%$6 $6+
+G<+8%*+,$/2 .<+#$87*I
$6+, $/Y+ / .,/<.6)$ Z
./&+ %$K>








L+ 354 !"#$ *1&4#J 4#4/3%1+. /$+ 4M".3 1+#2 $3 /4%3$"+ 4+4%,2 #484#. >$#.1 /$##4& .54##.AJ +13 $3
$+2 4+4%,2 #484#. B43;44+ 354*C 054##. "+ 35". 4+4%,2 &"$,%$* ,1 ?%1* N 31 OC P+ "+/%4$.4
"+ 4+4%,2 #484# >.$2 ?%1* N ! OA /$+ 1+#2 1//)% "? $ @5131+ 1? "+/1*"+, #",53 ". $B.1%B4&C %
'()$(*+( ,- (-($./ 0(1(0 2+*/ 3$"4 5 !67 ,+ *))"48*-,(' 9/ :#( (4,++,"- "3 * 8#":"-
*+ :#( (;),:(' (0():$"- $(0(*+(+ ,:+ (;)(++ (-($./>



1S. In the <(08 menu, select =$*-+,:,"-, then fill in the missing entiies:

Tiansition between n levels Wavelength (nm) 0v, visible, oi IR.
(Look at the spectiometei)
1 # 2 122 0v

1 # 4 97 0v


2 # S 6SS visible


2 # 6 41u visible
S # 4 1876 IR

S # 6 1u94

4 # 6 IR
S # 6 IR

14. Click on E6): +2+#$8), +,+8=' 2+&+2 0%/=8/*. Sketch the election eneigy levels,
paying attention to the spacing of the eneigy levels. Incluue the n-value foi each
eneigy level. The "n" is the <8%,#%</2 [7/,$7* ,7*3+8.






















1S. Set the M%=6$ (),$8)2. to C),)#68)*/$%#.
16. Set the monochiomatic light souice to 122 nm by clicking on the sliuei box anu type
in "122." This pioviues photons of just the iight eneigy to iaise (excite) the election
fiom n=1 to n=2 shell (1! 2 tiansition).

What happens to the election in the atom.


What happens to the eneigy level uiagiam.



What happens to the spectiometei. (You may neeu to ieset the spectiometei).






17. Repeat this analysis with the light souice set to 1uS nm. This pioviues photons of just
the iight eneigy to iaise (excite) the election fiom n=1 to n=S shell (1! S tiansition).
What uo you obseive.






18. }ust to make suie you unueistanu this mouel, set the light souice to 97 nm. This
pioviues photons of just the iight eneigy to iaise (excite) the election fiom n=1 to
n=4 shell (1! 4 tiansition). Can you make sense of the atom uiagiam, the eneigy level
uiagiam, anu the spectiometei.








19. Set the light souice to 6S6 nm. This coiiesponus to a tiansition fiom 2!S. What
happens. Why.



Q1)". &4 !%1,#"4 ;$. 354 ?"%.3 $31*"/ 3541%".3 31 "+/1%@1%$34 354 "&4$. 1? (#$+/I $+& 6"+.34"+
35$3 4#4/3%1+. /$+ 4M5"B"3 @%1@4%3"4. 1? B135 ;$84. R @$%3"/#4.C F54 &4 !%1,#"4 52@1354.". ".
35$3 $+2 *18"+, @$%3"/#4 1% 1BS4/3 5$. $+ $..1/"$34& ;$84 /5$%$/34%C T4 /%4$34& $ +4; ?"4#&
"+ @52."/. /$##4& ;$84 *4/5$+"/.J )+"3"+, 354 @52."/. 1? #",53 $+& *$334%C =1% 35". 54 ;1+
354 D1B4# (%"U4 "+ (52."/. "+ NVWVC P*1+, 354 $@@#"/$3"1+. 1? 35". ;1%I 5$. B44+ 354
&484#1@*4+3 1? 4#4/3%1+ *"/%1./1@4.C

2u. Set the M%=6$ (),$8)2. back to \6%$+. Switch to the 0+ W8)=2%+ Election Wave mouel.
Investigate the mouel. Be able to uiscuss what is the ./*+ /,0 0%@@+8+,$ foi the
ue Bioglie anu Bohi mouels of the hyuiogen atom.

16+ 0+ W8)=2%+ C)0+2
Besciibe this mouel of the
hyuiogen atom. What is
the atom like. Bow uoes
it incluue waves.
(]P1-: theie is a pull-
uown menu to change
fiom the iauial view)
(Ciicle all coiiect answeis)
A. The pioton (in the nucleus) is in the centei of
the atom.
B. The election is a paiticle.
C. The election is a wave.
B. The election is in motion.
What happens when
photons inteiact with the
atom.

Compaie the eneigy-level
uiagiam with that of the
Bohi mouel.






Besciibe the iesulting
emission spectium. Is it
"iight".
JO)7 .6)720 2+$ $6+
.%*72/$%), 87, @)8 / @+:
*%,7$+. $) #)*</8+
:%$6 $6+ +G<+8%*+,$/2
.<+#$87*I $6+, $/Y+ /
.,/<.6)$ Z ./&+ %$K>












6%;"+ 0/5%X&"+,4% B4,$+ ;1%I"+, 1+ ;$84 *4/5$+"/. "+ NVWYC T". "+34%4.3 ;$. .@$%I4& B2
$ ?113+134 "+ $ @$@4% B2 P#B4%3 6"+.34"+C Q"I4 &4 !%1,#"4J 54 B4,$+ 31 35"+I $B1)3 4M@#$"+"+,
354 *184*4+3 1? $+ 4#4/3%1+ "+ $+ $31* $. $ ;$84C L+ NVWO 54 @)B#".54& 5". ;1%IJ @%18"&"+,
$ 3541%43"/$# B$.". ?1% 354 $31*"/ *1&4# 35$3 !15% 5$& @%1@1.4&C F54 4H)$3"1+ $3 354 54$%3
1? 5". @)B#"/$3"1+ B4/$*4 I+1;+ $. 0/5%X&"+,4%Z. ;$84 4H)$3"1+C

16+ E#68dinger C)0+2
Besciibe this mouel of the
hyuiogen atom. What is
the atom like.

(Ciicle all coiiect answeis)
A. Theie is a nucleus.
B. The election is a paiticle in a well-uefineu
oibit.
C. The position of the election is iepiesenteu in
an ambiguous mannei. Biffeient aieas aie
shaueu.
What happens when
photons inteiact with the
atom.




Aie the eneigy levels
uiffeient when compaieu
with the Bohi mouel.

Sketch the eneigy levels
Bohr model Schrdinger Model






Besciibe the iesulting
emission spectium. Is it
"iight".
JM+$ $6+ .%*72/$%), 87,
@)8 / @+: *%,7$+. $)
#)*</8+ :%$6 $6+
+G<+8%*+,$/2 .<+#$87*I
$6+, $/Y+ / .,/<.6)$K>







\DL(D "1PCL( CPU-M W-E1 "^N--E \L1D 1D- -_?-NLC-]1"M -CLEELP]
E?-(1NQC `PN "1PCL( DOUNP^-]H


Part 2) Emission Spectra for Hydrogen and Helium

Materials Required
Equipment Chemicals Common Equipment
None None Hydrogen and helium discharge tubes
5000 V step-up transformer
Spectroscope
Cautions
The 5000 V step-up transformer and contacts for tubes on boards are an electrical hazard.
Always wear your lab goggles since they will block out almost all-harmful UV radiation.

Procedure
Make sure the overhead lights in the balance room are off during observations.

A. Recording scale readings for hydrogen lines.

NOTE: The spectrum for hydrogen you are observing is what results when white light
enters the ?-box in the computer simulation. To better understand your experiment, try
to connect your observation with the Bohr model in the simulation.

1. The power supply should be on and the discharge tubes should be uniformly bright. The slit
should be open approximately the width of a piece of paper. A tube containing a bulb
illuminates the scale, which should be visible along with the spectrum.
2. Move the hydrogen discharge tube directly in front of the slit. While looking into the eyepiece,
adjust the location of the discharge tube relative to the slit to give the brightest set of lines.
Adjust the slit to sharpen the lines. It may be necessary to move the eyepiece slightly to focus
the lines.
3. The lines and the scale should both be in focus consult your TA if the lines or scale are not
both visible and horizontal. Center your view of each line by moving the eyepiece arm using
the adjustment wheel, and record the scale reading, color, and intensity of each line in the table
below. You will easily observe 3 lines, and you should also see a less intense violet line.
(DOES THIS AGREE WITH THE COMPUTER SIMULATION?) You will also observe a
yellow line due to sodium in the glass wall of the tube. This is not part of the hydrogen
emission spectrum, but it is worth noting.

Table 1. Hydrogen Emission Spectrum
Color of Line Relative
Intensity
Scale
Reading
Wavelength
(nm)
N
initial
N
final


Yellow (Sodium) 589 N/A N/A



Complete the table for the hydrogen emission spectrum. Use information from the
computer simulation (Part 1) to determine the wavelength, N
initial
and N
final
. (see step 12).

B. Recording scale readings for helium lines.
4. Move the helium discharge tube in front of the slit. Which looking into the eyepiece,
adjust the location of the discharge tube relative to the slit to give the brightest set of lines.
5. Repeat step 3. You should observe 5-8 lines.

Table 2. Helium Emission Spectrum
Color of Line Relative
Intensity
Scale
Reading
Calculated wavelength (nm)
based on calibration










Waste Disposal
None

Data Analysis

Calibration of spectroscope

The scale readings for each spectrum are simply the location of photons after passing through
the prism. Since you know the wavelength of each of these transitions for hydrogen you can
use this information to calibrate the spectroscope and convert from scale reading to
wavelength for the helium emission spectrum.

Construct a graph of the wavelength, " (in nm) on the y-axis versus scale reading on the x-axis.
Your calibration line should curve smoothly from the upper left to the lower right. Based on
the calibration curve and the observed scale readings, calculate the wavelength for each line in
the helium emission spectrum and enter them into the table.

Interpreting the emission data

The emission of light from hydrogen or helium is not a continuous spectrum. The light from
the Sun or a white light produces a rainbow spectrum, whereas the spectra emitted by a
single element consists of a small number of discrete lines. In 1913 Neils Bohr provided an
explanation for this phenomenon. In Bohrs theory (which is investigated in the computer
simulation) the atoms of an element emit radiation when electrons undergo a transition from a
higher energy state to a lower one. The opposite occurs when light is absorbed; the energy
moves the electron from a lower energy level to a higher one.

Hydrogen is the simplest element. An atom of hydrogen has only 1 proton (with a positive
charge) and 1 electron (with a negative charge). The proton and electron experience an
electrostatic attraction since oppositely charged particles attract each other. Finally, in Bohrs
model, the electrons energy-levels are quantized and stable; the electron does not lose energy
and spiral into the nucleus.

In the Bohr model the energy of an energy state is:

E
n
= (-2.18x10
-18
J) (Z
2
/n
2
)

where Z is the number of protons in the nucleus of the atoms of that element, and n is a
positive integer identifying the energy state (or orbit of the electron).

The change in energy, $E, for an electronic transition is therefore:



Common calculations involved converting between energy and frequency (Plancks
relationship E=h!, where h = 6.63x10
-34
J s) and between frequency and wavelength (c="!,
c=3.00x10
8
m/s).


In your notebook calculate the wavelength for each line in the visible region of the
emission spectrum of hydrogen. In each case, n
f
=2. Choose energy values higher in energy
(n
i
> 2) and calculate the $E. Then, convert this to wavelength and express your answer in
nm. Finally, check your answer by looking in Table 1 (above).
Note: Questions similar to this one are frequently on General Chemistry exams!

Show your work for the calculation when n
i
= 3 and n
f
= 2.













What statement is true
regarding the emission
of a photon from a
hydrogen atom?




(Ciicle all coiiect answeis)
A. The emission of photons is an endothermic process so $E is
positive.
B. The emission of photons is an exothermic process so $E is
negative.
C. The wavelength of the n
i
=3 to n
f
=2 transition is shorter than
the n
i
=4 to n
f
=2 transition.
D. The energy of the n
i
=3 to n
f
=2 transition is greater than the
n
i
=4 to n
f
=2 transition.


After his initial success with the hydrogen atom, Bohr attempted to apply his theory to the
helium atom, which has two electrons orbiting a nucleus consisting of 2 protons and 2
neutrons. Despite years (!) of effort and numerous modifications to his theory, Bohr was
unable to extend his success beyond the hydrogen atom.

How do the emission spectra for hydrogen and helium differ from each other?








Using what you know about the Bohr model, the structure of hydrogen and helium atoms,
etc., propose a model to explain why the spectra differ. There is not a single right
answer for this question, but your response should be consistent with the available
evidence. You may choose to communicate your model with words, drawing, equations,
etc.