Why can't we see N2 and H2 in color?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Muthumanimaran
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Color
AI Thread Summary
Nitrogen (N2) and hydrogen (H2) gases are colorless because their electronic states are spaced far apart in energy, causing them to absorb light in the vacuum ultraviolet region rather than the visible spectrum. As isolated molecules, they do not display rotational or vibrational spectra that would contribute to color. However, when subjected to an electric discharge at low pressure, emission bands can appear in the visible region. This phenomenon allows for the visibility of certain colors under specific conditions. Overall, the inherent properties of these gases prevent them from being seen as colored in normal circumstances.
Muthumanimaran
Messages
79
Reaction score
2
why N2, H2 gas are colourless when visible light scatters it? why can't i see N2 and H2 coloured
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Muthumanimaran said:
why N2, H2 gas are colourless when visible light scatters it? why can't i see N2 and H2 coloured

The simple answer is that the electronic states of nitrogen and hydrogen are very far apart in energy. Both of these gases absorb in the vacuum ultraviolet region of the spectrum. The isolated gas molecules do not exhibit rotational or vibrational spectra, either.

There are emission bands between excited states of N2 and H2 that are in the visible region. You can see many of these if you pass an electric discharge through the gases at low pressure.
 
  • Like
Likes Pierce610, Muthumanimaran and Greg Bernhardt

Thread 'Need help understanding particle physics and quantum physics'

So I know that electrons are fundamental, there's no 'material' that makes them up, it's like talking about a colour itself rather than a car or a flower. Now protons and neutrons and quarks and whatever other stuff is there fundamentally, I want someone to kind of teach me these, I have a lot of questions that books might not give the answer in the way I understand. Thanks
View full post »

Similar threads

A mathematical description of the physics behind Aurora?
Replies
3
Views
2K
I Why can't we photograph magnetic lines of force emitted by planetary and beyond objects (like we can for the Sun)?
Replies
15
Views
2K
Why Does Ice Appear White?
Replies
35
Views
5K
A Can Hamson-Linde cycle liquidize N2?
Replies
7
Views
2K
I Using primary color light filters
Replies
20
Views
2K
Help with chemical potential formula in a mixture
Replies
2
Views
2K
Chemistry How is the CO and N2 reaction written?
Replies
4
Views
2K
B Do Electrons Get Excited and De-Excited Equally in Colored Compounds?
Replies
2
Views
2K
Why is 1 u = 1.6605 x 10^-27 kg?
Replies
4
Views
18K
I Density fluctuations and the color of the sky
Replies
0
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top