The Emission Spectrum of

Hydrogen
By: Yusuf Waxali

Lab Station #3
Lab Partner: John Richter
February 27, 2014

Experiment #3 Emission Spectrum of Hydrogen

February 27, 2014

The Emission Spectrum of Hydrogen

Objective
In this lab, students will use a spectrometer with a diffraction grating to observe the
spectrum of hydrogen and predict the value of R. Also, students will observe the
spectrum of Mercury and verify the diffraction grating constant.

Yusuf Waxali Physics 244

Experiment #3 Emission Spectrum of Hydrogen

February 27, 2014

Introduction
One topic that is covered in modern physics is the hydrogen atom. One
interesting quality of the hydrogen atom, as well as every other elemental substance, is
that it absorbs and emits light only at specific frequencies. This can be observed in the
emission spectrum of the hydrogen atom. In this lab, students use a spectroscope to
observe the emission spectrum of hydrogen and verify the work of Johann Balmer.
In 1885, Balmer found that the wavelengths at which spectral lines were
observed fell into the following formula:
1/=1.097E7 ( 1/4 -1/n2) where n=3,4,5
This discovery lead to quantum mechanical analysis of the phenomenon which was
ground breaking for the field of modern physics.
This lab allows students to recreate the experiments of Balmer, verifying both the
Rydberg equation as well as the Rydberg constant, R. Then, students will use the
spectrum of the mercury vapor lamp to verify the factory description on the diffraction
grating. This lab helps to better understand this important point in the history of physics.

Yusuf Waxali Physics 244

Experiment #3 Emission Spectrum of Hydrogen

February 27, 2014

Results
Data
After setting up the spectroscope in front of the hydrogen lamp, the angles of
each of the four colored spectral lines were recorded for both left and right. These
values were used to calculate the wavelength. See Table 1.

Table 1: values for each of the four visible spectral lines. Readings taken both
left and right of the central line.

After calculating the inverse of the wavelength and the square inverse of the quantum
number as shown in the last two rows of Table 1, the data was plotted on a graph of 1/
vs. 1/nu2. See Figure 1.

Figure 1: Plot of intensity data for normal incidence configuration. A clear peak
at 24 and another less clear peak at 50

Yusuf Waxali Physics 244

Experiment #3 Emission Spectrum of Hydrogen

February 27, 2014

After using the graph to obtain the experimental R value, students used this to calculate
both the short wavelength limit and the ionization energy and compare them to
published values. The results of this calculation are recorded in Table 2.

Table 2: Ionization Energy and Short Wavelength Limit for Hydrogen using experimental
and published value for R.

Finally, students then switched over to the mercury lamp in order to test the grating
constant on the diffraction grating. Using spectral lines of known wavelength, students
recorded for the spectral lines and verified the grating constant. See Table 3.

Table 3: Verification of Factory Label on Diffraction Grating. Includes experimental

values for lines per mm of grating

Yusuf Waxali Physics 244

Experiment #3 Emission Spectrum of Hydrogen

February 27, 2014

Calculations
Please see the attached notebook paper with handwritten calculations.

Results

The experimental R value gathered from the plot of the initial Hydrogen lamp
data was 0.012 nm-1, with a published value of 0.01097 nm -1. This yielded a percent
error of 9.3, which is within the uncertainty of measurement.

The average experimental grating constant was 14685.23, which means an

average of 689.425 lines per millimeter. Compared to the labeled 600 lines per
millimeter, the percent error was 14.9. This was just outside the margin of error from
measurements, however it is close to the manufacturers label on the diffraction grating.

Yusuf Waxali Physics 244

Experiment #3 Emission Spectrum of Hydrogen

February 27, 2014

Conclusion
To summarize, students experimentally verified The Rydberg Constant R as well
as the grating constant on the manufacturers label for the diffraction grating. The
results were close to the published values, never exceeding 15 percent error.
One possible source of error is light coming sources other than the lamps being
examined on the spectrometer. Also, while the spectrometer is very precise, the
placement of the diffraction grating is not, as it is done by hand. Not placing the grating
perfectly normal to the incident beam of hydrogen light may skew the diffracted rays and
cause incorrect readings.
Overall, this lab was effective in demonstrating the work of Johann Balmer and
showing how the linear relationship between 1/ and 1/nu2 can be used to find the value
of the Rydberg constant R. By recreating the ground-breaking experiment from the 19 th
century, students were able to observe the spectral lines of hydrogen and mercury and
better understand Physics as a result.

Yusuf Waxali Physics 244