Flame Emission Lab Testing the Many Different Reactions of

Different Materials When Energy is Added.

E. Mendoza1; N. Tjoar1; and M. Ruppel1
High Tech High North County, San Marcos, CA 92078
Experimental:
For this experiment, Methanol was used for conducting the experiment and two droppers full
were added into a watch glass and was lit on fire to be used as a control. When the fire went
out, observations were written in the Chemistry notebooks. While writing the observations down,
let the watch glass cool down before rinsing well with water. Obtain 1 scoop from the first metal
from the list and put on watch glass, and add two droppers full into the watch glass. The metal
was lit on fire, and record observations. After waiting for the watch glass to cool down, the watch
glass and the process was repeated experiment with the rest of the metals.
1 Pair of Goggles
1 Lab Coat
1 box of matches
1 Scoopula
1 Pair of latex gloves
1 Notebook
1 Pen
Given Metals
1 large watch glass
1 small watch class
1 Large beaker
1 stirring rod
Results:
In this lab, the given were 6 metals, a control and an unknown in which we had to prove what it
was. The control was methanol (CH3OH). The other metals were Lithium Chloride (LiCl),
Calcium Chloride (CaCl2), Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3), Potassium Chloride (KCl), Borax
(Na2B4O7 10H2O), Copper (II) Sulfate (CuSO4), and the unknown. In the recorded
observation, each chemical burnt differently and had a different color. As shown in the table
below, each flame had its uniquely colored personality. Note that all the metals were exposed to
methanol and stirred to saturate. Therefore, all experiments were carried on the basis of the
saturation of each metal saturated into the methanol

Data Table:
Compound Name

Formula

Observations

Control (Methanal)

CH3OH

Blue Flame
Oily Residue

1. Lithium Chloride

LiCl

Blue, Orange
Flame/Yellow Flame
White circular residue

2. Calcium Chloride

CaCl2

Blue, Orange Flame

Chalky Residue

3. Calcium Carbonate CaCO3

Blue, Purple, Orange

Flame
White, oily residue

4. Potassium
Chloride

KCl

Indigo, Blue, Orange

Flame
White burnt residue

5. Borax

Na2B4O710H2O

Deep Green, Dark

Orange Flame
White powder residue

Pictures of flame

6. Copper(II) Sulfate

CuSO4

Light Blue, Light

Green Flame
Dark Blue residue

7. Borax Calcium
Chloride (Theory)

Na2B4O710H2OCaCl2 Green with a touch of

orange near end of
experiment.
White, powder, and
the chalky residue

Results:
When observed, all the metals emitted different color flames. When the data was compared, all
flames burnt blue, leading to the belief of the mix of methanol added, due to the flames burning
blue. As a result, the more dynamic colors were observed instead of the blue methanol burnt.
Then, another observation was made: The similar metals (Seen based on the element that they
contained) emitted certain identical colored flames. This is believed to be due to the existence of
identical metals in two or more elements, based on the added methanol. As a result, these
chemicals were sorted closer together.
Unknown Chemical:
As the other flames did not have a similar flame color or residue, two chemicals the most similar
powder, flame, and residue were mixed as a test to observe the unknown chemical. The two
chemicals when mixed, was theorized to create more dynamic flames or mix two flame colors to
make a new flame color. As a base, the result of Methanol added into the mix led to an add of a
blue flame.The unknown chemical is currently theorized to be a Borax Calcium Chloride
compound. The compound burnt in the same colors as the two and when further tested, the
flames were identical. Also, the residue was similar, leading to the belief of the compound. As
the other flames were not similar, the metal was believed to be a mixture of two or more
chemical components. As a result, this is believed that it is safe to conclude that the compound
was (Na2B4O4 10H2O CaCl2).
Conclusion:
In the end, the different metals could absorb different amounts energy and release that in
photons. The color depended on how much energy was absorbed during the absorption
process. As the color had more frequency, or smaller wavelengths, the atoms absorbed and
released more energy. However, if the color had less frequency, or larger wavelengths, the
atoms absorbed and released less energy. As a reference, the color spectrum is shown below
labeled. As to answer our question though, the different metals that were combusted displayed
different colors due to different absorption and release of energy. Further testing of the unknown
chemical could be done to further the point of the unknown being a borax calcium chloride

solutions. Types of testing that could be done are mixing two chemicals and testing many times
with the chemicals given.