How Do Different Light Sources Affect Emission and Absorption Spectra?

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SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on the impact of different light sources, specifically incandescent bulbs and sodium vapor lights, on emission and absorption spectra. The experiment conducted involved analyzing the emission spectra of various minerals and objects, revealing interference from ambient light. The user predicts that incandescent bulbs will produce a range of spectral lines, particularly strong in the green region, while sodium vapor lights will predominantly emit energy in the yellow spectrum. Additionally, the absorption spectra of permanganate solutions and chlorophyll under incandescent light are explored.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of emission and absorption spectra
  • Familiarity with incandescent and sodium vapor light sources
  • Basic knowledge of atomic excitation and light frequency perception
  • Experience with experimental setups in spectroscopy
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the emission spectra of various minerals using incandescent light
  • Investigate the absorption spectra of chlorophyll and permanganate solutions
  • Learn about the differences between incandescent and vapor excitation light sources
  • Explore advanced spectroscopy techniques for minimizing ambient light interference
USEFUL FOR

Students, educators, and researchers in the fields of chemistry and physics, particularly those interested in spectroscopy and the effects of light sources on spectral analysis.

Exidez
I recently did an experiment at school to find the emission spectra for certain minerals and objects. Because we didnft do it in a pitch black room we had a lot of interference of the white walls which really confused results.
So I was just wondering what the absorption spectrafs would be of a green, orange and yellow incandescent globe. Will you just see green bands for the green globe, yellow bands for the yellow globe ect..?

Also what will be absorption spectrafs of a permanganate solution and chlorophyll held up to an incandescent globe?
 
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As you no doubt already know, the emission lines and bands are produced by excitation of specific elemental atoms (or absorption by the same kind of atoms). Your eye builds its color representation (what you see) from just the sampled intensities at two specific frequencies - in the blue green and red. From this is reconstructed a colored image, but the world outside doesn't have that color, it has the full range of incident light frequencies.

So my prediction is you will see a range of lines and bands in all parts of the spectrum, but with a strog line present in the green area. or a combination that makes the color. This is assuming incandescent bulbs. Vapor excitation lights have much more restricted spectra. A sodium vapor light for example puts most of its energy into the famous sodium line(s) in the yellow.
 

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