Hydrogen atom spectrum experiment

[einstein1921]

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!

 

[Jano L.]

Probably the gas in the lamp is so hot that the molecules are mostly broken down to neutral atoms.