Instructional Videos
Chem 110 Emission Spectroscopy
The following two videos show how to setup, focus, and calibrate a spectroscope. Also given below are three images showing portions of the spectra for helium, hydrogen, and the compact-fluorescent (CLF) bulb to provide guidance during the lab session. The images will be displayed in the lab room, but if you are working much faster or slower than the majority of students, you can use your phone to refer to these images.
Spectroscope
Setup (8:48)
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Spectroscope
Measurements (5:22)
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The following image shows 4 of the spectral lines of helium. Use the very obvious green line to orient yourself. The "violet" line is three lines to the right of green. Omit the two lines in-between ("blue and blue-green").
The following image shows 2 of the spectral lines of hydrogen. Start with the very bright aqua line. The "indigo" line is to the right of aqua. Do not misidentify this for the "violet" line. The "violet" line is very hard to detect, but can just barely be seen in this image to the right of indigo. Students can omit the violet line.
The last image below shows all of the lines or band in a compact-fluorescent bulb (CFL) that students are requested to measure in the lab. The report sheet has adjectives describing the lines to help distinguish from other lines that students do not need to measure.
