Color and Unknown Sodium Yellow

1. Create and complete a data table for Part One of the lab. It should include the name of the element (or unknown) examined and the color of the observed flame

2. Identify each unknown from Part One of the lab and briefly explain why you identified each unknown as you did.
Part Two (Spectroscopy):
1. Create and complete a data table for Part Two of the lab. It should include the name of the element, the colors, and the wavelength values of the observed lines.

2. Describe the line spectrum of the star. Give the color and wavelength value of the five brightest lines in the spectrum.
Conclusion:
1. Explain, in your own words, why different elements produce different colors of light when heated.

2. Why do you think elements must be heated before they emit colored light?

3. What element do you think is the most abundant in the star that you observed in Part Two? Explain your answer.
Part1:

Solution
Name
Color Description
Known 1
Barium
Green
Known 2
Calcium
Red
Known 3
Sodium
Yellow
Known 4
Rubidium
Purple
Known 5
Potassium
Blue
Known 6
Lithium
Pink
Unknown
Sodium
Yellow
Unknown
Potassium
Blue

The first unknown is sodium because it has a yellow flame. The second unknown is potassium because it has a blue flame.

Part 2:

Hydrogen
Helium
Sodium
Neon
Mercury
Star
1
Purple,
410
Blue, 449
Yellow,
579
Purple, 420
Blue, 430
Aqua,
500
2
Blue, 440
Green, 510
Yellow, 588
Green,
512
Blue, 450
Green,
550
3
Green, 510
Yellow, 585
Dark Yellow,
593
Green,
520
Green,
540
Yellow,
582
4
Yellow, 538
Red, 690

Green, 525
Green,
550
Blue,
483
5
Yellow, 550
Red, 730

Yellow, 562
Yellow,
570
Red,
698
6
Yellow, 575

Yellow, 580
Red,
672

7
Red, 655

Red,
697
Red, 690

8
Red, 680

Red,
710
Dark red,
704

9
Red, 700

Red,
720

10

Red,
745

The line spectrum of the star emits a lot of light. Aqua=500, green=550,