IMAGE. A sample calibration curve using the emission lines of helium as the reference gas.
Readings obtained from a hand-held spectroscope may not correlate precisely with known values measured with more sophisticated instruments. Therefore, calibrating the spectroscope is necessary.
First, obtain a set of known emission wavelengths for a gas that is available from a reference source. Then, record the wavelengths observed for the gas using the spectroscope. Prepare a graph of known (reference) wavelengths versus observed wavelengths. From this calibration plot, observed emmission lines can be corrected to agree with wavelengths recorded with more accurate instrumentation.
