Emission Spectroscopy with

the EO-85

Amanda Petty
Jordan Haskins
Andrew Fleming
Gino Moore
 Introduction
• In this experiment we used both a visual
spectroscope and a modern computerized
spectrometer.
• The visual spectroscope uses a prism as the
dispersing element and the wavelength of
particular gas emissions are read on a scale
inside.
• The computerized spectrometer sends an
electronic signal to the computer to enable it to
draw a graph of light intensity vs. wavelength.
 Materials and Methods
• Visual Spectroscope: used to view the spectra of
the light sources
• EO-85 emission spectrometer and computer:
used to graph the light intensity vs. the
wavelength
• 7 different light sources:
– Fluorescent - Unknown #1 (blue)
– Hydrogen - Unknown #2 (red/orange)
– Argon - Unknown #3 (pink/purple)
- Unknown #4 (pink)
 Materials and Methods
• Each light source was held in front of the
visual spectroscope and the spectrum was
viewed through the eye piece.
• The light was focused and the scale was
aligned by turning the knobs at each end
of the spectroscope.
• The numbers on the scale corresponding
to “prominent” lines in each spectra were
recorded.
 Materials and Methods
• Each light source was held in front of the
EO-85 and a spectrum recording was
taken.
• The computer then graphed the results in
a graph of the light intensity vs. the
wavelength.
• Wavelength numbers were assigned to
the lines seen visually and a dispersion
curve for the prism was constructed (in
order to calibrate the visual spectrometer).
 Results
Lines seen by the Visual Spectroscope

Light Source Color of line and Corresponding number(s)

yellow 2.4, green 3.2, light blue 5.1, purple 8.0
Fluorescent
red 0.95, light blue 5.35, dark blue 6.4 and 6.7, purple 8.15
Hydrogen
red/orange 1.65, green 3.2
Argon
green 3.25, yellow 2.45, purple 8.05
Unknown #1
dark red 0.25, 0.4; bright red 0.65, 0.75, 0.85, 0.95; orange
Unknown #2 1.0, 1.2, 1.3, 1.45, 1.5; orange/yellow 1.65; yellow 1.85, 1.95,
2.05, 2.15, 2.2; green 2.4, 3.25, 3.35; blue/green 4, 4.15, 4.3,
4.4, 4.6; blue 6.0; purple 6.85
Red 1.0, light blue 5.35, purple 8.15
Unknown #3
red 0.95, blue 5.35
Unknown #4
 Results
Graph of Fluorescent Bulb
 Results
Graph of Hydrogen Bulb
 Results
Graph of Argon Bulb
 Results
Graph of Unknown #1 Bulb
 Results
Graph of Unknown #2 Bulb
 Results
Graph of Unknown #3 Bulb
 Results
Graph of Unknown #4 Bulb
 Uncertainty
Scale Readings Uncertainty (δ) Wavelength (nm) (δ) nm
0.25 0.2 717 5
0.40 0.2 706 5
0.65 0.2 688 5
0.75 0.2 681 5
0.85 0.2 674 5
0.95 0.2 667 5
Table 1

1.00 0.2 663 5

1.20 0.2 650 5
1.30 0.2 643 5
1.45 0.2 634 5
1.50 0.2 631 5
1.65 0.2 621 5
1.85 0.2 609 5
1.95 0.2 604 5
2.05 0.2 598 5
2.15 0.2 592 5
2.20 0.2 589 5
Table 1 Continued
2.40 0.2 578 5
2.45 0.2 576 5
3.20 0.2 545 5
3.25 0.2 537 5
3.35 0.2 533 5
4.00 0.2 507 5
4.15 0.2 501 5
4.30 0.2 496 5
4.40 0.2 493 5
4.60 0.2 487 5
5.10 0.2 470 5
5.35 0.2 467 5
6.00 0.2 455 5
6.40 0.2 449 5
6.70 0.2 446 5
8.15 0.2 445 5
Results
 Discussion
• We estimated wavelengths from the graphs
obtained from the computerized spectrometer,
yielding a small amount of error (accounted for
with our uncertainty values).
• The graphs on the computer included more
points than were observed visually. This shows
the inability of the human eye to perceive the
entire spectrum of light waves, as these points
were outside or on the fringes of the 400-750 nm
visible range.
 Conclusion

• The values of wavelengths corresponding

to the values read from the spectroscope
scale matched closely to what was
expected from the color of line observed.
 Citations
• Clark, Roy W.; Howard, James C. Physical
Chemistry Lab Manual, 4th ed., RonJon Publishing,
Denton, TX, 1996.
• Fleming, A.J.; Physical Chemistry Laboratory
Notebook, 2007 p. 12-14.
• Haskins, J.R.; Physical Chemistry Laboratory
Notebook, 2007 p. 19-20.
• Moore, L.G.; Physical Chemistry Laboratory
Notebook, 2007 p. 14-15.
• Petty, A..; Physical Chemistry Laboratory
Notebook, 2007 p. 12-14.