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Conclusion

It is definitely possible to identify elements using a light emission spectra, however it can be very difficult with a piece of plastic. We were able to successfully identify the elements with the plastic spectroscope. It took a lot of guesswork and logical deduction, but it worked out well in the end. Due to the way the CD acts as a diffraction grating compared to the plastic spectroscope, it was difficult to identify elements with large emission spectra due to the emission lines overlapping each other. Therefore, contrary to our hypothesis, we did not see the same emission spectrum in our homemade spectroscope.

#conclusion

#data analysis #data

Photo Credit: Goertzen, Abigail. "AST115H: Basic Astronomy." Spectronomy Lab. N.p., 01 Jan. 1970. Web. 06 June 2017.

#data analysis #data

Photo Credit: Berita2. "PERIODIC TABLE OF ELEMENTS OF CONSCIOUSNESS." Periodic Table. N.p., 01 Jan. 1970. Web. 06 June 2017.

#data analysis #data

Photo Credit: BotRejectsInc. "Atoms - Spectra." Atomic Spectra. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 June 2017.

#data analysis #data

Photo Credit: Wabash Instrument Corp. "SPECTRUM ANALYSIS OF ELEMENTS." Photoshelter. Fundamental Photographs Search for Keywords:, n.d. Web. 6 June 2017.

"Absorption spectroscopy exercises." Forensic science-absorption spectra exercises. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 June 2017.

#data analysis #data

Photo credit: "The Importance of Spectroscopy." Astronomy 122 - Spectroscopy. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 June 2017.

#data analysis #data

Data Analysis of the Unknown Elements

Using the data chart we produced, we compared the lines on our chart to elements we researched online. There was a large amount of error, as the school spectroscope was not very accurate, and many lines blended together. This made it very hard to identify some elements, such as 2. Using comparison and a fair amount of guessing, we determined this element was Nitrogen. Nitrogen has many lines, but our inaccurate piece of plastic was not good enough to allow us to differentiate the lines. Some of the obvious elements were easier, such as salt B, sodium, which has only one yellow spectral line. The harder elements to identify were salt A and gas 4. Also, do to the large variety of elements but a very small visual spectrum, it was easy to mistake one element for another. We were unsure if we should settle on Copper or Barium for salt E. After settling on Copper, Mrs. Rossistar informed us that it was, in fact, Barium. While it is possible to identify elements using these spectroscopes, it can be very difficult in some cases.

#experiment #data analysis

Using the homemade spectroscope

Viewing light through the spectroscope produced satisfactory results. We could see the emission spectra clearly, however the light would bend in vertical shape, so while we could identify the elements shown to us, it was difficult, because the emission lines would overlap each other.

#DIY spectroscopy

Trials In Building A Spectroscope

Eugene began by looking up a few DIY tutorials for building a spectroscope, and began gathering the materials needed:

A paper towel tube

Knife

Cardstock Paper

Tape

Scissors

Blank CD

The spectroscope went through three different iterations. The building process required a lot of trial and error, and lots of error.

#spectroscope

Basis of Spectral Lines

Why do elements give off spectral lines in the first place? Why does Hydrogen only emit four lines? Why not more or less? These questions can be explained through concepts we learned throughout the year. Electrons in an element jump to higher energy levels due to the heat from fusion. The energy given off produces the wavelengths which correspond to the colors you see in a spectroscope.

Data Collection

How We Messed Up #2

After figuring out how to properly use a spectroscope, we went back to burning unknown salts and recording the wavelengths from their emission spectra. Afterwards, we viewed excited gases in tubes with the spectroscopes and recorded them. Unfortunately, Eugene did not properly record the emission spectra for the salts we burned, and it became difficult to identify the elements. In the end we were able to identify all the elements viewed through the spectroscope by reading the emission lines.

#chemistryfail

How we messed up #1

When using the spectroscope, we were unable to clearly see the lines. We were pointing the light through the large slit shown here. As this did not show us what we needed, we were sent into a panic because our project did not work. However, thanks to Dr. Jim Peploski, he told us we were stupid and using the spectroscope wrong. The light must pass through the tiny slit as shown on the left of the picture, as the light must be reflected, meaning the scope must be held at a strange and unintuitive angle in order to use it properly.

Mrs. Rossiter using the energy from the fire of a bunsen burner to excite the electrons in the elements as they burn. Some other colors observed were yellow, and green.

An example of excited gasses in tubes. These use electricity to excite the electrons.

Photo credit: "Behind the Scenes with Light & Color: 10 Great Demos." Arbor Scientific. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 June 2017.

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