Question

d. what do you observe when you lower the voltage to around 20 volts? explain why. spectral lines become less intense and fewer types of transitions may occur due to less electron excitation
multiple atoms tab

1. run the simulation using hydrogen for a few seconds. then switch to sodium.

a. what do you notice about the spacing of the electron levels of these two elements? hydrogen has more evenly spaced electron levels compared to sodium more complex and irregular spacing
b. as the sodium simulation runs, what do you notice about the number of transitions in the uv, visible and far ir portions of the spectrum? explain your observations, referring to your answer to 3a and comparing its spectrum to that of hydrogen.
analysis questions:

1. how did the electrons in the elements you observed become “excited”? gases - absorb energy heat,electrical and discharge

Explanation:

• d. When voltage is lowered to around 20 volts, less electron excitation occurs. This leads to less - intense spectral lines and fewer types of transitions as there is insufficient energy for electrons to make various transitions.
• 3a. Hydrogen has a simpler electron - configuration with one electron, resulting in more evenly spaced electron levels. Sodium, with more electrons and a more complex electron - configuration, has irregularly spaced electron levels.
• 3b. Sodium has a more complex electron - configuration than hydrogen. In the sodium simulation, there are likely more transitions in the UV, visible, and far - IR portions of the spectrum compared to hydrogen due to its multiple electrons and more complex energy level structure allowing for a greater variety of electron transitions.
• Analysis Question 1: Electrons in the elements become "excited" when the gas absorbs energy in the form of heat or electrical energy. This energy is used to move electrons from lower energy levels to higher energy levels.

Answer:

• d. Observation: Spectral lines become less intense and fewer types of transitions occur. Explanation: Less electron excitation due to lower voltage.
• 3a. Notice: Hydrogen has more evenly spaced electron levels; sodium has more complex and irregular spacing.
• 3b. Notice: Likely more transitions in sodium in UV, visible, and far - IR compared to hydrogen. Explanation: Sodium's more complex electron - configuration allows for more transitions.
• Analysis Question 1: Electrons become excited when gas absorbs heat or electrical energy for electron level transitions.