OBJECTIVES

1. To determine the diffraction grating constant of Mercury spectrum.

2. To examine the visible lines of Balmer series and of Rydberg’s constant of Hydrogen spectrum.

3. To determine the wavelength of Hydrogen spectrum in Balmer series.

INTRODUCTION

Atom or molecule can made transition from high energy state to lower energy state. Spectral
emission occurred when electron jumped from high energy state to lower energy state. Spectral lines
series is a series of wavelengths that occurred as light or electromagnetic radiation that are emitted
by energized atoms. In this experiment, we will examined the spectral lines of Mercury and Hydrogen
by means of diffraction grating. Diffraction grating is the most common method used to separate
color in incident light. Its act as “ super prism” and made up of many parallel and closely packed slits.
When a source of light strike the grating, the light will be diffracted to each sides in multiple orders.
The images formed on the screen are series of lines that has regularity in spacing and coming closer
toward the shorter wavelength.Grating constant, g can be determined by using the formula :

l
n . λ=g
√ d +l2
2

Where n is 2, which is quantum number for Balmer series, λ is wavelength of the Mercury or
Hydrogen, d is distance of the grating to the scale while l is the 1/2 length of the screen in which we
will going to measured. The wavelength of Hydrogen spectrum in Balmer series is calculated using
the same formula as above. Rydberg’s constant was calculated to confirm whether the Hydrogen
spectrum followed the Bohr’s atomic model or not.

1 1
N=R th=( − )
n2 m 2

Where N is λ-1 , n and m are integer, where m > n .

 PROCEDURE

1. The power supply was adjusted to 5kV.

2. The scale was attached directly behind the spectral tube.

3. The diffraction grating was set to be about 50cm at the same height as the spectral tube and
aligned to be parallel with the scale.

4. The light was switch off and the room was darkened.

5. The luminous capillary tube was observed and the distance of the spectral line of the same color
from left to right of first order was measured.

6. The distance between the grating and the scale was measured.

Spectral tube

Power Supply

Scale

Grating

Figure 1 : Experimental set-up to determine the spectral lines of Mercury and Hydrogen atom.
 DATA AND RESULTS

Part 1: Mercury Spectrum

Table 1 shows the data of Hg spectrum

Colour Wavelength, 2 l/m l/m g/m d/m

(λ/m)
Yellow 578.0 × 10-9 0.256 0.128 1.494×10-6 0.305
Green 546.1 × 10-9 0.246 0.123 1.460×10-6 0.305
Blue 434.8 × 10-9 0.176 0.088 1.568×10-6 0.305

Table 2 shows the percentage error of grating constant for Hg spectrum

Colour Percentage Error (%)

Yellow 11.07
Green 12.68
Blue 5.59

Part 2: Hydrogen Spectrum

Table 3 shows data of Hydrogen spectrum

Colour Wavelength, 2 l/m l/m d/m

(λ/m)
Yellow 9.955×10-7 0.285 0.143 0.160
Green 7.682×10-7 0.198 0.099 0.160
Blue 7.556×10-7 0.177 0.089 0.160

Table 4 shows the value of Rydberg Constant for each colour in Hydrogen spectrum

Colour Rydberg Constant , m-1

Yellow 4.783 × 106

Green 6.943 × 106
Blue 9.529 × 106

Table 5 shows the percentage error of the average value Rydberg Constant

Average Value Rydberg Constant, , m-1 Percentage Error, %

7.085 × 10 6 35.24

CALCULATIONS
Part A : Hg Spectrum

Diffraction of nth order

l
n.λ = g.
√d 2
+l 2
λ= wavelength

g= grating constant

l= distance between spectral lines of the same colour in right and left first order

d= distance between the scale and the grating is also measured

Grating constant, g for Mercury

 Yellow

-9
√ ( 0.305 ) + ¿(0.128)
2 2

1(578.0 × 10 ) = g × 0.128
¿
g= 1.494 ×10 -6

g= 1.568 × 10 -6

The next grating constant, g for green and blue was calculated using the same formula

Percentage error (Grating Constant of Mercury)

¿(theoretical value−experimental value)∨ ¿

Percentage error (%) = theoretical value × 100 %
¿

 Yellow
 1.680× 10
1.494 ×10
1.680× 10
¿
¿
= ¿ ×100%
(¿ ¿−6)∨ ¿
¿
¿(¿ ¿−6)−¿
¿
¿
= 11.07%

The next percentage error, % for green and blue was calculated using the same formula.

Part B : Hydrogen Spectrum

Wavelength of Hydrogen Spectrum

 Yellow
−6
(1.494 ×10 ) ×0.143
λ=
√( 0.160 ) +(0.143)
2 2

= 9955× 10 -7

The next wavelength, λ for green and blue colour is calculated using the same formula.

Percentage error for Rydberg Constant

Rtotal = (4.783× 106) + (6.943 × 106) + (9.529× 106)

= 2.126× 107

Raverage = 7.085 × 106

7.085× 10
7 (¿¿ 6)
Percentage Error = ¿(1.094 × 10 )− × 100%
1.094 × 107
¿
= 35.24%
 DISCUSSION

The first part of this experiment focused on getting the grating constant, g by using mercury
spectral tube as the source of light. When the spectrum tube was connected to power supply, the
mercury lamp will emit a series of spectral line of different colours which are yellow, green and blue.
Diffraction grating with 600 lines/mm is used to split and diffract the light of different wavelength
with high resolution in different direction.

The distance from the scale and the grating, d is 305 mm. Based on the result, the distance
between the yellow spectral lines is 256 mm while for green and blue spectral lines are 246 mm and
176 mm respectively. The theoretical wavelength for yellow line is 578.0 nm whereas for green and
blue lines are 546.1nm and 434.8nm respectively. By using the above information, the grating
constant can be calculated by using formula:
g
n . λ=
√ d 2 +l2
In the formula n is the order of diffraction, so because the first line are the most intense, n is
1. Based on the calculation, the highest grating constant in for blue spectral line which is 1.568
µm . Next, the second highest grating constant is yellow spectral line with 1.494 µm and the
lowest is 1.460 µm for the green spectral line. The average obtained for the three measurements of
grating constant is 1.507 µm.
The second of this experiment using hydrogen spectrum tube replacing the mercury spectral
tube used earlier. The distance from the scale and the grating, d is 160 mm. The emission of light
from hydrogen lamp showed the similar spectral line as before which is yellow, green and blue. By
using the grating constant for the particular colour of visible line calculated before, the wavelength of
individual colour band emitted from the hydrogen lamp can be calculated by same formula above.
The longest wavelength is yellow with 996 nm followed by green with 768 nm. The shortest
wavelength is blue band with 756 nm. The percentage error for the wavelength for each spectral
line is calculated by the formula:

|Theoretical value−Experimental value|

error = ×100
Theoretical value
The percentage error for wavelength of yellow spectral line is 11.07% while for green is 12.68% and
for blue band is 5.59%. The error in the result of wavelength is due to error when conducting the
experiment.

From the wavelength calculated, we can decide that the H α line is yellow while the Hβ line is
green and the Hγ line is blue. To calculate the Rydberg constant, R th for each spectral line, the Bohr’s
atomic model is followed. The formula is used for Balmer series where N is the wave number, λ−1
and the value m is according to the sequence of H line above.

N=Rth
( 21 − m1 )
2 2

The experimental Rydberg constant for yellow band is 4.783 x 10 8 m-1 whereas for green
band is 6.943 x 106 m-1. Next, 9.529 x 106 m-1 is the value of Rydberg constant for blue band. The
average Rydberg constant for the three bands is 7.085 x 10 6 m-1 .By comparing the experimental value
with the theoretical value of Rydberg constant which is 1.097 x 10 7 m-1, the percentage error is
calculated. The percentage error is 35.24%. The error is possible because of several sources of error
which is the experiment is carried out in inconvenience environment. The light sources that coming
out from windows can interfere the experiment’s light source that had been provided. Next, the
measurement taken are not repeated three times and average numbers are not calculated. The
precautions are the experiment must be carried out in a dark places so the scale of measurement
can be seen clearly. Lastly, the measurement taken must be repeated three times and average value
is calculated.

CONCLUSION
In conclusion, by means of Hg spectrum, blue spectral line has the highest value of grating
constant which is 1.568 µm followed by yellow with 1.494 µm and the lowest is green with 1.460 µm.
The wavelength obtained in this experiment is yellow the longest wavelength with 996 nm followed
by green with 768 nm and shortest wavelength is blue band with 756 nm. The percentage error for
wavelength of hydrogen spectrum is 11.07% for yellow spectral line while 12.68% for green spectral
line and for blue spectral line is 5.59%. Furthermore, hydrogen follows Bohr’s atomic model and the
Rydberg constant for for yellow band is 4.783 x 10 8 m-1 while for green band is 6.943 x 10 6 m-1 and for
blue band is 9.529 x 10 6 m-1 . The percentage error for the average Rydberg constant obtained in the
experiment is 35.24%.

REFERENCES

1. Eisberg and Resnick (1985). Quantum Physics. John Wiley and Sons. p. 97.
2. Bohr, N. (1985). "Rydberg's discovery of the spectral laws". In Kalckar, J. Collected works. 10.
Amsterdam: North-Holland Publ. Cy. pp. 373–379