Chemistry of the Light Bulb

By: Phillip Ndowu

Summary

• The light bulb is powered through an electric current

• The bulb receives the current through a filament

• Then, the filament transmits the energy to the bulb

• Common elements in a regular incandescent light bulb include: argon, tungsten, krypton

ChemistryO Thomas Edison

invited the light bulb

O The filament of the bulb is important to the function

O The thinner the filament, the more energy is emitted

ChemistryO Tungsten sublimes

making is easier for the filament to burn out easier

O Scientists tried different substances that would last longer

O They also tried to replace oxygen with nitrogen and more argon

Chemistry• Scientists used krypton,

and argon as substitutes for tungsten

• Argon was a good substitute because the argon “controlled the sublimation rate of the filament by transferring some of the excess heat away from the glowing metal (Rohrig 12).”

• This process prevents the filament from over heating quickly

ChemistryO When the argon

hits the wall of the bulb, it raises the temperature

O The tighter the atoms are, the more sustained the energy is

VideoO https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=YnMP1Uj2nz0

Works Cited

O "Producing Light." Union. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. http://www1.union.edu/newmanj/Physics100/Light%20Production/producing_light.htm>.

O Rohrig, Brian. "Chemistry of the Light Bulb: Still a Bright Idea." Free Republic. Plan Book, n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. <http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=14&ved=0CIQBEBYwDQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffiles.planbookedu.com%2F128250%2F59463%2Fphy_ChemistryofLightbulb.pdf&ei=FT9LU-GZIKeA2gXs0ID4CQ&usg=AFQjCNFU4P0gjk7Ni4snaYac5VMwee_fPA&sig2=WRCCaJf_2wfHC5szUYRf9g&bvm=bv.64542518,d.b2I>.

O Uva, Enrico. "The Chemistry of Light Bulbs." Science 2.0. ION, n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. <http://www.science20.com/chemical_education/chemistry_light_bulbs—and_why_cfls_are_overrated-77526>.