Question

How do the spectra of the metal salts differ from each other and from the spectrum of the hydrogen atom?  Be specific, referring to observations made on your spectra. Include the shapes and numbers of the lines you observe.   

Why do the spectra of the metal salts differ from the spectrum of the hydrogen atom?  Be specific, connecting your observations made on your spectra from the different salts and the hydrogen atoms as they relate to the theory.

I understand you do not have our data and cannot fulfil the "be specific portion" but im looking for a nudge in the correct direction or answers to the bolded portions.

Thanks!

Answer 1

Hydrogen has one proton and one electron. This is the simplest electric configuration possible that is only 2 charges are present. The energy of the electron will be dependent on its interaction with the proton and hence on the distance from the proton. As there is only one force, we can easily model and hence have a relatively simple formula for the wavelenghts of emission spectrum. Also, being a gas, the nearby molecules are very far away such that one does not need to consider the interaction with electrons and protons of other molecules. On the other hand, in a metal, there are multiple protons and multiple protons. The forces acting on one electron are numerous and their vector addition would give us the net force. That will make it different as well as complex from the case of hydrogen. Secondly, in metals the atoms are more closely or tightly packed and hence even the electrons of other nearby atoms are going to effect. All these forces/interactions can also be thought of as fields. All the charges in a space have their electric field such that at a point the net field is the vector sum of all these fields. Energy of the electron in any state is a function of this net electric field (or net Force). Hence metal would have a different spectrum.