For the Balmer Series lab; maximum and minimum wavelengths were analyzed using a spectroscope. The following equipment are necessary: Mercury discharge tube, hydrogen discharge tube, incandescent lamp, spectrometer with diffraction grating. The incandescent light source, mercury source, and the hydrogen were all observed. The balmer series is a series of emission lines in the visible part of the hydrogen spectrum. The balmer series is determined by using the balmer formula. This equation can be used to find the wavelength of the absorption lines. This lab was particularly useful to learn how to use a spectroscope and find the wavelengths through certain sources.
Abstract:
This experiment utilized Balmer’s formula to compare different types of light visually through a spectrometer from three different light sources. These consisted of a mercury discharge tube, hydrogen discharge tube, and an incandescent lamp.
Conclusion
As the principle quantum number increases, the energy of the photon emitted also increases. Electrons transitioning from higher energy photons correspond to smaller wavelengths and the photons transitioning from lower energy levels have larger wavelengths. These larger wavelengths are located on the red end of the visual electromagnetic spectrum and increase as the color transitions to violet, which corresponds to a smaller wavelength and higher energy. Each of the light sources corresponds to this trend.