Blog 7.1 Flame Tests and Emission Spectra

Conclusion:

1.  After seeing the spectra of various elements in this lab, why do you think an element’s spectrum is often called its “fingerprint?”   Explain using the terms ground state, excited state, and electron configuration.

2. Explain how a spectra is formed. Make sure to include the process and the steps that occur. This is important that you can describe what happens during the changes between ground and excited state, and how energy is released and absorbed.

ENRICHMENT:

1.  Research the discovery of the element Helium, and why it is given the name it has.

2.  Find out how astronomers use what is called a “red shift” or a “blue shift” to know whether a galaxy is moving towards or away from our galaxy.  To do this:

a)  Explain what blue shifts and red shifts are, and what they have to do with an element’s spectrum.

b)  Explain how the ratio of blue shift to red shift galaxies is used as evidence that the universe is expanding.

c)  Find out what Sir Edwin Hubble had to do with all this.