Hydrogen atom spectrum experiment

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The discussion revolves around the use of hydrogen gas in spectrum experiments, questioning why molecular hydrogen is used instead of individual hydrogen atoms. It explains that hydrogen lamps, which contain hydrogen gas, are electrically stimulated to excite electrons, producing a spectrum. The key point is that the high temperatures in the lamp likely dissociate molecular hydrogen into neutral hydrogen atoms. This dissociation allows for the observation of the hydrogen atom spectrum rather than the molecular spectrum. The experiment effectively demonstrates the properties of hydrogen atoms despite the initial presence of molecular hydrogen.
einstein1921
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Hi,Everyone! I have a question! We often say hydrogen atom spectrum. But in nature ,it exists in the form of molecular hydrogen. today, I read something about hydrogen atom spectrum experiment. In the experiment ,we use hydrogen lamp. The Hydrogen lamp is a long glass tube filled with Hydrogen gas that is stimulated electrically. As a voltage is applied between the cathode and the anode, an electrical current will flow through the gas, and excite the electrons of the Hydrogen atoms. why we use hydrogen gas? Shouldn't we use hydrogen atom! If we use hydrogen gas ,we should get the spectrum of molecular hydrogen! please tell me something if you know it! Thank you!
 
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Probably the gas in the lamp is so hot that the molecules are mostly broken down to neutral atoms.
 

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