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  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 2001  > December  >
In the Laboratory
JCE Classroom Activity
LEDs Are Diodes

George C. Lisensky
Department of Chemistry, Beloit College, Beloit, WI 53511

S. Michael Condren
Department of Chemistry, Christian Brothers University, Memphis, TN 38104

Cynthia G. Widstrand, Jonathan Breitzer, and Arthur B. Ellis
Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706


Cover
December 2001
Vol. 78 No. 12
p. 1664A

Abstract
In this activity 50-socket strands of incandescent holiday lights are cut to produce 2-socket strands and 6-socket strands. One of the incandescent bulbs can be replaced with a light-emitting diode (LED). Typical LED circuits contain a resistor to limit current flow; in these circuits that function is performed by the remaining incandescent bulb(s). The diode nature of LEDs is demonstrated, as well as the energy associated with different wavelengths of light. The activity illustrates the structure and properties of matter, the interactions of energy and matter, the relationship of energy and color, and the contributions of chemistry to high-tech materials.
More Information
*  Citation
Lisensky, George C.; Condren, S. Michael; Widstrand, Cynthia G.; Breitzer, Jonathan; Ellis, Arthur B. J. Chem. Educ. 2001 78 1664A.
*  Keywords
Atomic Properties / Structure; Introductory / High School Chemistry; Materials Science; Nanotechnology; Solid-State Chemistry; Teaching / Learning Aids
*  History
Created:
Last Updated:
November 2, 2001
August 31, 2005
  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 2001 > December > Page 1664A


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