The Whyville spectrometer has an electrode to zap gaseous elements and a Bunsen burner to burn solids. The light created by these actions is fed through a diffraction grating and projected on the wall of the spectroscopy lab. You can project the spectra of up to 5 gasses and 5 solids on the wall by dragging gasses to the electrode and solids to the Bunsen burner. You can also remove the sample by clicking on an element that's already in the flame or the electrodes.

Place gaseous samples here.

Place solid samples here.

The Spectrometer game consists of 3 levels:

1. In the first level, the spectrum of an unknown element will be displayed on the wall. Your job is to duplicate the spectrum you see on the wall using the whyville spectrometer. When you match 5 samples, you win the game.
2. The second level will display the spectra of several combined samples that you must match. When you create 3 combinations of elements that match the target spectrum, you win.
   
3. Did you know that Helium was discovered on the Sun before it was discovered on earth? Astronomers found extra lines in the spectrum of the sun which they guessed was an undiscovered element. You will be shown the spectra of two combined elements again, only this time, we've hidden some of the elements you can choose from. You need to guess which elements are missing. Guess the element and you win the game.