Lab: Electron Configuration

Objectives
Observe the energy emitted from different electron energy levels when energy is
applied to a gas-discharge lamp.

Obtain a basic knowledge of why gas-discharge lamps produce different colors of

light.

Introduction
Commonly referred to as neon lights or
vapor lamps, gas-discharge lamps are
found on the storefront s of most every
retail business in developed countries. In
many Asian countries, such as Thailand,
colorful gas-discharge lamps are used to
adorn temples and other buildings.

In America they are most often used as

elements of the outdo or business signs
for restaurants and movie theaters. You
may also see these decorative lights as
an accessory on automobiles in the Figure 1 : Colorful g as-discharge lam ps filled with
noble gases i ncluding neon and argon. The type of
form of running light s or license plate gas, sealed in a glass vacuum-tu be, determines the
borders. color produced when energy is supplied to the lamp.

Gas-discharge lamps have hundreds of uses in our modern society: traffic lights,
headlights, street lamps, movie theater projectors, even the tiny lights on computers and
other electronics the LED (li ght emitting diode). Growing env ironmental concerns over
energy consumption and pollution has resulted in a worldwide campaign to use compact
fluorescent lamps (a type of gas-discharge la mp) in place of the less energy efficient
incandescent light bulb. During the period before WWII, gas-discharge lamps were used,
unsuccessfully, as tanning lamps in an effort to help reduce high rate of child mortality

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 due to tuberculosis. High-intensity
discharge lamps, which release
ultraviolet radiation, are used today in
water purification systems to kill bacteria.

The two necessary components of a

Figure 2 : A c ompact fluoresc ent bulb with the
exposed b allast. The ball ast controls t he fre quency
of the modul ated cu rrent a ne cessary compo nent
of a gas-discharge lamp.
gas-discharge lamp are: a glass vacuum
tube containing a noble gas, metal halide,
or mixture of those substances and a
frequency modulated power supply. The
special electric circuitry required to
modulate the current of a gas-discharge
lamp is known as the ballast. In the
North America, the ballast is attached to
compact fluorescent bulbs but in Europe
compact fl uorescent bulbs connect to
central ballast.

Figure 3 : A Xenon ga s-discharge la mp as the type us ed in the headlig hts for auto mobiles. Large r
versions of Xenon lam ps are u sed in movie proje ctors such a s the Xeno n pulse lam p use d in IMAX
projectors.

A gas-disc harge lamp produces light as ener gy, controlled by the ballas t, heats an
element releasing electrons and ionizing t he gas in the tube. T he free electrons are
accelerated by the modulation of the current and collide with a gas or metal atom. When
this collisio n occurs, electrons orbiting t he atom can be excited to a higher energy

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state. Excess energy, in the form of light-e mitting photons, is released as the electron
falls back to its original orbit.

Each energy level of an atom is

quantized and is the location for a
set number of electrons. Electrons
can only move to an energy level,
they cannot remain between energy
levels. So an excited electron can
move from the 1s energy level to the

Increasing Energy
2s energy level but not to the 1.5s
energy level. The naming system for
describing the location of an electron
is broken into three basic parts: the
principal energy level (n = 1, 2, 3, 4,
5, 6, 7), the sublev el (s, p, d, or f),
and the number of orbitals (elec tron
clouds) at that leve l. Known as the
electron configuration, it is a si mple
way for scientist to determine the
relative energy of an electron. The
Figure 4 : A diagram of the arran gement of orbitals
amount of energy released as illustrating the energy levels on the lef t, the sublevels on
electrons move between the different the right, an d the numb er of electrons (in each orbital) in
energy levels, corresponds directly the center (each arrow represents one electron).
to the wavelength of light produced
during the event.
Increasing Energy
Astronomers and chemists use this
process to determine the chemical
composition of any l ight producing
event as in the burning of gases on
a star or the light produced by a gas-
discharge lamp. The wavelength of Figure 5 : T his scale, di agramming t he color and
the light emitted duri ng the shift in wavelength of light (as measured in nanometers nm),
illustrates th e na rrow wavelength of Yellow li ght.
the electrons energy level Located bet ween the enclo sing black vertical b ars,
decreases when more energy is Yellow light has a wavelength of 570-580nm.
released and increas es when less
energy is released.

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Pre-lab Questions
1. Describe what is meant by the term electron configuration.
Electron configuration is the rearrangement of electrons of an atom or molecule in atomic
or molecular orbitals.

2. How does the electron configuration of an atom relate to the amount of light
emitted during an energy releasing event?
The electron configuration of an atom relate to the amount of light emitted during an
energy releasing event because the brighter the light the more energy is being released,
which may alter the arrangement and quantity of electrons in the outer shells within an
atom's electron configuration.

3. Describe two other phenomena that produce various wavelengths of light.

Two phenomena that can produce various wavelengths of light are heating a substance,
causing ionization and, nuclear fission at the center of the sun or stars.

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Experiment: Chemical Gas-Discharge Lamps
In this experiment energy released in the photons will be compared to the electron
configuration of certain elements contained in a variety of gas discharge lamps. The
frequency of the energy supplied to the lamp can be varied and the spectrum of the light
produced can be compared to the electron configuration of the material being studied.

Materials

Gas-Discharge Lamp Simulation

Procedure: Part 1
1. Open the gas-discharge lamp simulation.
2. Leave the energy level on the battery set to 23.00 volts.
3. Be sure the Electron Production is set for Single.
4. Examine the legend and the discharge lamp device.
5. Under Options be sure to check both Squiggles and Run in slow motion.
6. Observe and record the results in the discharge lamp and on the electron
configuration panel as you fire a single electron at each of the four elements
listed in the drop-down menu.

7. Select Configurable from the drop-down menu and slide the number 2 energy
level to a new position up or down the electron configuration.

8. Observe and record the results as you fire a single electron at the Configurable
material.

9. Repeat Step 8 for three different energy level positions.

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Data and Observations: Part 1

Gas-Discharge Lamps: Results of Energy Discharge Single Electron

Substance Observations

The hydrogen atom passed right through the other atom and produced
a charge of about 2 and shed 1 photon

Hydrogen

The atom hit the mercury and continued while the mercury got a
charge of between 3 and 8 and then shed between 1-4 photons

Mercury

The atom hit the sodium giving it a charge of 6 and then the sodium
shed 4 photons

Sodium

The atom hit the neon and there was no charge so no photons were
shed

Neon

The atom hit and gave a charge of 2 before the larger atom shed 1
photon

Configurable

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Procedure: Part 2
1. Leave the energy level on the battery set to 23.00 volts.

2. Set the Electron Production to Continuous.

3. Under Options check only Spectrometer.

4. Adjust the electron production to 70% by moving it to the right.

5. Observe and record the different wavelengths produced in the spectrometer for
each of the four elements.

Data and Observations: Part 2

Gas-Discharge Lamps: Results of Energy Discharge Continuous Electrons

Substance Observations

Atoms hit the hydrogen at very fast rate but it only holds up to 6 charge
before it has to shed at least 1 photon
Hydrogen

Atoms hit the mercury at very fast rate but it only holds up to 9 charge
before it becomes necessary to shed at least 1 photon
Mercury

Atoms hit the sodium at very fast rate but it only holds up to 6 charge
before it needs to shed at least 1 photon
Sodium

Atoms pass through the neon at very fast rate but the neon does not
react
Neon

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Procedure: Part 3
1. Switch from One Atom mode to Multiple Atoms mode.
2. Be sure the Electron Production is set for Continuous.
3. Under Options check only Spectrometer.
4. Select Neon from the drop-down menu.
5. Manipulate the energy supply and the percentage of continuous electron
production to produce the greatest level of red light.

Data and Observations: Part 3

Gas-Discharge Lamps: Results of Energy Discharge Neon Lamp

Substance Observations

between 500 and 600 with some exceptions of reaching above 600.

Spectrometer Readings

23

Voltage Level

100%
Percentage of Electron
Production

what I've notice is that most neon atoms at the end of the bar are
obtaining and maintaining their charge. The photons are helping to light
up even more then before and producing different photon charges.

Other Observations

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Post-lab Questions
1. Write out the electron configurations of each the materials used in your gas-
discharge lamps. Potassium is already done as an example for you. HINT: The
periodic table is very helpful and can be used as guide.

MATERIAL ELECTRON CONFIGURATION

. 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s1
Hg 1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^6 3d^10 4s^2 4p^6 4d^10 5s^2 5p64f145d106s2
Na 1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^1
Ne 1s^2 2s^2 2p^6

2. What is the approximate wavelength of light emitted by each of the materials?

MATERIAL COLOR WAVELENGTH

H
red 656.2 nm
Hg blue 436 nm
Na Yellow 589 nm
Ne green 540.1 nm

3. On the bottom of the simulation screen, click on the button to view actual images of
gas-discharge lamps and neon lights. Notice the lamps containing Neon gas can be
different colors how is this possible?
The different charges and environmental factors in each can be different resulting in varying
colors.

4. What must occur in order for a gas-discharge lamp to produce light?

What must occur in order for a gas-discharge lamp to produce light is by creating an electrical
discharge through ionized gas.

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