The Chemistry of Art > 2. The Structure of the Atom and Colours > Analyzing The Emission Spectra of Sodium >
Gather and process information from secondary sources to analyse the emission spectra of sodium and present information by drawing energy level diagrams to represent these spectral lines
Sodium
- Symbol: Na
- Atomic number: 11
- Flame color: Yellow – Orange (visible region)
- Wavelength of light emitted: 600 nm approx.
- Ground state electron configuration: 1s22s22p63s1
Spectra of sodium
- Sodium burns with a bright yellowy-orange flame color which comes from the most frequent electron transition from excited state 3p energy level to 3s ground state level – emitting energy around yellow wavelength
- Visible line spectrum is dominated by a closely spaced pair of yellow lines and appears as bright yellow doublet at approx 589 and 590nm
- Doublet is a consequence of the different angular momentums possible for 3p electrons
- By using CD as diffraction grating, the yellow colour can be commonly observed in street lamps.
