[menco]

Hi everyone,

I have been given an assignment with my physics subject and describe in 400 words how electromagnetism can be used to determine the composition of different chemical mixtures

I was hoping someone could lead me to a couple of websites to do my research. I have entered about every key word i know into google but I am not having any luck finding information.

Thanks.

[jeffrey.struss]

Here is a hint:

electromagnetic radiation.


Think of different types and search their relation to determining chemical mixtures.

[vmelkon]

Electromagnetic spectrum is one keyword.
You have X-rays.
Can X-rays be used? What is X-ray crystallography?

Can visible light+UV light (emission spectroscopy) be used? Fill a glass tube with some gas and excite the atoms with electricity. Think of street lights that contain sodium and they give off.

What about spectroscopy by making a solution of NaCl. Then dip a wire in the solution and put the wire in a flame. Will the flame emit the same light as sodium? Analyze the light.

There is also the inverse : absorption spectroscopy. Can you identify the composition of a stellar phenoma?