Emission spectra of hydrogen, helium and sodium with an unknown to identify

An example figure from the Line Spectrum generator.

Bright-line emission spectra of hydrogen, helium and sodium stacked on one 400–700 nm wavelength scale, with an unknown spectrum under them made of two of the three
Three bright-line emission spectra, hydrogen, helium and sodium, drawn as colored lines on black and stacked on one wavelength scale from 400 to 700 nm, so a line at the same wavelength sits at the same place in every strip. The fourth strip, labeled Unknown, is a mixture: it shows every line of hydrogen and of sodium, for students to match against the three above.

Editing opens it in Line Spectrum with these settings, to change anything and copy or download your own.

Answer key

  • Hydrogen: 410.2, 434.0, 486.1, 656.3 nm
  • Helium: 447.1, 471.3, 492.2, 501.6, 587.6, 667.8 nm
  • Sodium: 568.8, 589.0, 589.6, 616.1 nm
  • Unknown: hydrogen and sodium

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