![]() Each element has its own unique spectrum of lines, like a rainbow barcode. The spectroscope splits up the light with a prism and reveals a spectrum consisting of series of sharp coloured lines. When they return to their lower energy states, energy is released in the form of light. ![]() When atoms are energetically excited, for instance when a compound is introduced into a flame, electrons can temporarily be promoted to higher energy levels. The previous year they had invented an instrument known as a spectroscope to help in chemical analysis. Caesium was discovered in 1860 by Robert Bunsen (he of the burner fame) and physicist Gustav Kirchhoff. Not for its eyes (it's only an element!) but less romantically for the appearance of its emission spectrum in the spectroscope. Source: Universitätsbibliothek Heidelberg – CC BY-SA 4.0Ĭaesium gets its name from the Greek for heavenly blue. So to play with it, you have to hold the glass tube, knowing that if you accidentally crushed it, or dropped it, all hell would break loose. My caesium is sealed inside a glass tube under an atmosphere of the chemically inert gas argon. In fact, you can't actually touch the metal itself since it spontaneously bursts into flames in the presence of air and reacts explosively with water. Liquid metals are always fascinating – everyone loves mercury just imagine playing with liquid gold!īut here's the snag that adds to my fascination with this metal - it has a rather fiery temper. So just holding its container converts the crystalline solid into liquid gold. Strictly speaking, it's the warmth from the hand that melts it, given that its melting point is only 28.4☌. The next exciting thing about caesium is that my love is not unrequited, it responds to my touch. The Royal Society of Chemistry and Compound Interest are celebrating IYPT with these element graphics, which will be released throughout the year Source: © Andy Brunning/Royal Society of Chemistry
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