General Chemistry 1
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We, the following students, attest that we each contributed to this workshop and understand that we will
earn the same grade for the workshop.
Workshop Number _______________________
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, General Chemistry 1
Workshop 6: Introduction to Spectroscopy
Spectroscopy is the study of how matter interacts with electromagnetic (EM) radiation. Neon
lights are a direct application of spectroscopy. Electrons inside the atoms of a noble gas are
excited to higher energy orbitals and when they relax back to the ground state the gas emits
photons in a characteristic and specific color. In today’s workshop, we will explore and compare
the visible emission spectra of sodium and mercury, and then in part 2, we practice using the
Rydberg equation to do some energy level calculations for an unknown one electron species.
Before we begin with problem solving discuss the following question with your group.
We already know that the light emitted from atoms is due to the relaxation of specific electron(s)
from excited states back down to lower energy levels and we know how calculate the energy of
individual levels and energy gaps. Now let’s think about what happens to the size of the atoms
when this process occurs.
PREDICT 1: Do you expect that the size of an atom (its atomic radius) to increase or decrease
when it absorbs a photon and electrons are excited to higher energy levels?
___________Increase___________
EXPLAIN.
When an atom becomes excited its electron has to move to a higher energy level (orbital). When
this happens, the size of the atom increases because the higher energy orbitals are father from
the nucleus
PREDICT 2: Do you expect that the size of an atom (its atomic radius) to increase or decrease
when its excited electrons relax back down to lower energy levels?
_______Decrease________________
EXPLAIN.
When an excited atom then releases a photon and returns to its ground state it becomes smaller
relative to its size in the excited state.
Now certify: Can all members answer these questions independently: all members sign below and then
move on to solving the problems.
Sign names here: ____________________________________________________________________________________________
This study source was downloaded by 100000899606396 from CourseHero.com on 10-09-2025 17:30:11 GMT -05:00
2
https://www.coursehero.com/file/29462585/Workshop-6-Spectroscopy/
Workshop Header Page
We, the following students, attest that we each contributed to this workshop and understand that we will
earn the same grade for the workshop.
Workshop Number _______________________
Student Name Student Signature
This study source was downloaded by 100000899606396 from CourseHero.com on 10-09-2025 17:30:11 GMT -05:00
1
https://www.coursehero.com/file/29462585/Workshop-6-Spectroscopy/
, General Chemistry 1
Workshop 6: Introduction to Spectroscopy
Spectroscopy is the study of how matter interacts with electromagnetic (EM) radiation. Neon
lights are a direct application of spectroscopy. Electrons inside the atoms of a noble gas are
excited to higher energy orbitals and when they relax back to the ground state the gas emits
photons in a characteristic and specific color. In today’s workshop, we will explore and compare
the visible emission spectra of sodium and mercury, and then in part 2, we practice using the
Rydberg equation to do some energy level calculations for an unknown one electron species.
Before we begin with problem solving discuss the following question with your group.
We already know that the light emitted from atoms is due to the relaxation of specific electron(s)
from excited states back down to lower energy levels and we know how calculate the energy of
individual levels and energy gaps. Now let’s think about what happens to the size of the atoms
when this process occurs.
PREDICT 1: Do you expect that the size of an atom (its atomic radius) to increase or decrease
when it absorbs a photon and electrons are excited to higher energy levels?
___________Increase___________
EXPLAIN.
When an atom becomes excited its electron has to move to a higher energy level (orbital). When
this happens, the size of the atom increases because the higher energy orbitals are father from
the nucleus
PREDICT 2: Do you expect that the size of an atom (its atomic radius) to increase or decrease
when its excited electrons relax back down to lower energy levels?
_______Decrease________________
EXPLAIN.
When an excited atom then releases a photon and returns to its ground state it becomes smaller
relative to its size in the excited state.
Now certify: Can all members answer these questions independently: all members sign below and then
move on to solving the problems.
Sign names here: ____________________________________________________________________________________________
This study source was downloaded by 100000899606396 from CourseHero.com on 10-09-2025 17:30:11 GMT -05:00
2
https://www.coursehero.com/file/29462585/Workshop-6-Spectroscopy/
