Chemistry of Rainbows

Hopewell Valley Student Podcasting NetworkChemistry ConnectionsChemistry Behind Rainbows Episode #_3_  Welcome to Chemistry Connections, our name’s are Julianna Silva and Chloe Mcgregor and we are your hosts for episode #3 called the chemistry behind rainbows. Today we will be discussing exactly how rainbows occur after a storm, how the wavelengths of each color work together, and how acids and bases cause acid rain to change the appearance of a rainbow. Segment 1: Introduction to RainbowsHave you ever wondered how exactly rainbows occur after storms? It is instinct to run outside after a storm to look at rainbows. But why exactly do these beautiful rainbows occur? Just last week when I was driving during the storm I saw a rainbow right outside my window which gave me the perfect idea for our podcast episode.  Throughout this first segment, we will be going over the basic components of a rainbow, and exactly how the water and sunlight work together to expose the 7 individual colors of the rainbow. Segment 2: The Chemistry Behind Rainbows To the human eye, the light that comes from the sun appears to be white. However, this white light is actually composed of the 7 wavelengths of color. A wavelength is the distance between successive crests of a wave, especially points in a sound wave or electromagnetic wave. Each color is unique to its wavelength. The color red has the slowest and longest wavelengths while violet, on the opposite side of the rainbow, has the shortest and fastest wavelengths. When all of these wavelengths are together, they produce the normal, visible white light. The electromagnetic spectrum consists of an array of wavelengths that produce a variation of radiations such as ultraviolet, infrared, radio, gamma rays, and x-rays. On this same spectrum is visible light that consists of the 7 wavelengths of color combined. When these 7 wavelengths of color are combined, they produce a white visible light that we see from sunlight. However, after a rainstorm when H2O molecules are present in the air, the white light is able to hit a new medium. Compared to the air, the white light uses the water molecules to refract, causing the 7 separate colors to become visible to the human eye. The interaction between the white light and the water droplets cause the wavelengths to separate, and therefore produce a rainbow across the sky after a storm. One of the main reasons why wavelengths are separated when they hit water is because water is much denser than air. The density of water causes the separation of the electromagnetic spectrum. Also visible to the human eye is the curvature of a rainbow. After a storm hits, there is only a certain amount of water droplets suspended in the atmosphere. As the sunlight hits these specific droplets, a curved rainbow can be observed with respect to the curvature of the...