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Why does a sodium vapor street light look yellow instead of white?

User Joper
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This is because these lamps have sodium vapor in them. When the light from the tungsten filament hits the sodium vapour molecules, the sodium emits a yellow glow. This is the electromagnetic spectrum of sodium atoms. This is also why when you burn salt (Sodium Chloride) in a flame it burns with a yellow glow. Streetlight is made of sodium vapour becaue they use less electricity hence conserve energy.

User Evan Shaw
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