Ch.6 - Electronic Structure of Atoms

Brown - Chemistry: The Central Science 14th Edition

Brown14th EditionChemistry: The Central ScienceISBN: 9780134414232Not the one you use?Change textbook

Brown 14th Edition

Ch.6 - Electronic Structure of Atoms

Problem 90c

Chapter 6, Problem 90c

The human retina has three types of receptor cones, each sensitive to a different range of wavelengths of visible light, as shown in this figure (the colors are merely to differentiate the three curves from one another; they do not indicate the actual colors represented by each curve):

(c) Explain why the sky appears blue even though all wavelengths of solar light are scattered by the atmosphere.

Name: Chemistry: The Central Science
Author: Brown
ISBN: 9780134414232

Verified step by step guidance

Identify the three types of cones in the human retina: S-cones (blue), M-cones (green), and L-cones (red).

Observe that S-cones are most sensitive to wavelengths around 450 nm, M-cones to around 530 nm, and L-cones to around 560 nm.

Understand that Rayleigh scattering is more effective at shorter wavelengths, which means blue light (shorter wavelength) is scattered more than red light (longer wavelength).

Note that even though all wavelengths of solar light are scattered, the higher sensitivity of S-cones to blue light makes the sky appear predominantly blue to the human eye.

Conclude that the combination of the scattering effect and the sensitivity of the S-cones results in the perception of a blue sky.

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Visible Light Spectrum

The visible light spectrum is the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that is visible to the human eye, typically ranging from about 380 nm (violet) to 750 nm (red). Different wavelengths correspond to different colors, with shorter wavelengths appearing blue and longer wavelengths appearing red. Understanding this spectrum is crucial for explaining how light interacts with objects and how it is perceived by the human eye.

Rayleigh Scattering

Rayleigh scattering is the scattering of light or other electromagnetic radiation by particles much smaller than the wavelength of the light. This phenomenon is responsible for the blue color of the sky, as shorter wavelengths (blue light) are scattered more than longer wavelengths (red light) when sunlight passes through the Earth's atmosphere. This selective scattering leads to a predominance of blue light reaching our eyes from all directions in the sky.

Cone Photoreceptors

Cone photoreceptors are specialized cells in the retina that are responsible for color vision. There are three types of cones, each sensitive to different ranges of wavelengths corresponding to blue, green, and red light. The relative activation of these cones allows the brain to perceive a wide range of colors, including the blue of the sky, which is primarily detected by the cones sensitive to shorter wavelengths.

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Related Practice

Textbook Question

Determine whether each of the following sets of quantum numbers for the hydrogen atom are valid. If a set is not valid, indicate which of the quantum numbers has a value that is not valid: (a) n = 3, l = 3, m_l = 2, m_s = +1/2 (b) n = 4, l = 3, m_l = -3, m_s = +1/2 (c) n = 3, l = 1, m_l = 2, m_s = +1/2 (d) n = 5, l = 0, m_l = 0, m_s = 0 (e) n = 2, l = 1, m_l = 1, m_s = -1/2

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Textbook Question

In an experiment to study the photoelectric effect, a scientist measures the kinetic energy of ejected electrons as a function of the frequency of radiation hitting a metal surface. She obtains the following plot. The point labeled 'n0' corresponds to light with a wavelength of 542 nm. (a) What is the value of n0 in s - 1?

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Textbook Question

The series of emission lines of the hydrogen atom for which nf = 3 is called the Paschen series. (b) Calculate the wavelengths of the first three lines in the Paschen series—those for which ni = 4, 5, and 6.

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Textbook Question

Consider a transition in which the electron of a hydrogen atom is excited from n = 1 to n = ∞. (a) What is the end result of this transition?

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Textbook Question

The series of emission lines of the hydrogen atom for which nf = 3 is called the Paschen series. (a) Determine the region of the electromagnetic spectrum in which the lines of the Paschen series are observed.

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Textbook Question

Consider a transition in which the electron of a hydrogen atom is excited from n = 1 to n = ∞. (b) What is the wavelength of light that must be absorbed to accomplish this process?

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