[autopsy]

Also maybe I should make a new topic for this.  But also in my homework, I must explain why a hydrogen vapor lamp must be turned on before it gives off light? And why is the spectroscope necessary to obsere the hydrogen spectrum?
I have been unable to find these answers in my textbook, or on the internet.  I hate to bother you with too many questions so is there a site you highly recommend on these subjects?  Thank you so much for your time!
                                                                                    Steph

[Yggdrasil]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas-discharge_lamp

[autopsy]

Thank you for the link Ygg, it was helpful.  Although I still could not pick from that link or further searches why a spectroscope is necessary to observe a hydrogen spectrum?

[DevaDevil]

Because most of the emission spectrum of hydrogen is outside of the visible range

Explanation of hydrogen spectrum