Bicol University

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE
Legazpi City

FLAME TEST
Activity No. 11

Group 9 – BS Chemistry 1-A Lab 2

Tonnette Ashley G. Señora
Francis Louis Lorica
Babylyn Murillo
Keneth Piñon

October 29, 2019

Introduction

Spectroscopy, in physics and physical chemistry, is the study of spectra. Its basis is that
each chemical element has its own characteristic spectrum. When compounds of different
elements are heated over a flame, each element gives off a different color. Scientific studies
have proven each color indicates light of different energy.

The flame test is a simple laboratory procedure that can identify the presence of specific
elements in a chemical sample. Different elements give different colors to the flame when a
small amount of substance to be tested is placed on the tip of a clean rod, and the rod is
inserted in the flame. Metals, with their loosely held electrons, are excited in the flame of the
laboratory burner vaporizing the metal ions.

To carry out the flame tests a small amount of the compound being tested will be ignited
and the color given of was observed. The color originates from the movement of the electron in
the metal ion. When heated the electrons gain energy and these are into higher energy levels,
however the electrons occupying these levels is more energetically stable and they tend to fall
back down to their original energy levels releasing energy as they do so. This energy released
as light, with the characteristics of flame colours of different metal ions due to varying electron
transitions.

When there is an unknown compound, the metal can be found by using previous data
from previous tests. By looking at the color, it can be seen if it matches any previous tests and
possibly find the name of the metal. These tests work better for some metal ions that other in
particular, some ions are generally quite faint and hard to distinguish.

Flame tests can also be used to find the color of fireworks one wants to use. By using
the metal that emits the color one wants in fireworks, one can get the desired color. There are
no relevant waste concerns in this lab. This experiment will show that every element has a
different bright line spectra and this can be used to identify elements in space or anywhere.

The purpose of this experiment was to distinguish the flame color due to burning alcohol
from the test compounds and then to identify an unknown metallic ion by means of its flame
test.
Materials Used

The materials used in the experiments are Stirrer, Spatula, Evaporating Dish, Syringe,
match sticks. Chemicals and reagents are also used these are Iron Chloride (FeCl 3), Potassium
Chloride (KCl), Magnesium Chloride (MgCl2), Calcium Chloride (CaCl2), Aluminum Chloride
(AlCl3), Copper Sulfate Cu(SO4)2, Barrium Chloride (BaCl2), Sodium Chloride (NaCl) Zinc
Chloride (ZnCl2) and Copper Chloride (CuCl2) and two unknown mass.
For the Group 9, Aluminum Chloride (AlCl3), Copper Sulfate Cu(SO 4)2 and unknown
number 2 was used.

Experimental Procedure

First the evaporating dish was placed on the middle of the table, underneath that was a
piece of cartolina to avoid the staining on the table itself. A microspatulaful compound of Copper
Sulfate – Cu(SO4)3 was taken in the canister jar and then it was placed in the evaporating dish.
Water was taken in the Erlenmeyer flask using the syringe and 2-3 drops of water was added to
the compound and it was stirred. Using a new syringe, 1ml of denatured alcohol was taken from
the Erlenmeyer flask and then it was added to the mixture and it was stirred again, then it was
immediately ignited using match sticks. Same procedure was done on the second compound, it
was the Aluminum Chloride (AlCl3) the aluminum chloride already melted that’s why it was in its
liquid form, because of that water was not added to the compound rather denatured alcohol was
added directly and it was stirred and it was ignited immediately using match sticks.
Results and Observation

Here are the results gathered and observations of the color of the flame of the two
compounds tested

The table contain the compound used and the metal ion present on it as well as the
observation that took during the laboratory activity. Different colors of flame has been observed
through different compound tested.

Compounds Tested Metal Ion Present Observation

FeCl2 Fe3+ The color that was observed
was yellow
KCl K+ The color that was observed
was pink
MgCl2 Mg+2 The color that was observed
was white
CaCl2 Ca+2 The color that was observed
was red
Cu(SO4)2 Cu2+ The color that was
observed was green
AlCl3 Al3+ The color that was
observed was white
BaCl2 Ba2+ The color that was observed
was yellow
NaCl Na+ The color that was observed
was orange
ZnCl2 Zn2+ Colorless
CuCl2 Cu2+ The color that was observed
was green

Ion Present in Unknown (#2) Compound: Ca2+

DISCUSSION

Flame colors are produced from the movement of the electrons in the metal ions
that are present in the compound. As the metal ions are ignited some of their electrons
absorbs energy and move to excited states. As the electrons return to a lower energy they emit
light of a characteristic frequency corresponding to the amount of energy that they lost moving
to the low energy level. Since the frequency and color of the light are characteristics of a
particular metal, flame tests are sometimes used as an analytical test for the presence of certain
metal ions. The activity went well, all the data gathered and the group understand the flame test.
There are multiple energy states available to an electron, so there are many possible
transitions, leading to the numerous wavelengths that comprise the emission spectrum.
Because each element has a unique emission spectrum, the spectrum obtained from any hot or
energetic body may be used to analyze its composition (Clark, 2005).

The color of the flame between the AlCl3 and Cu(SO4)2 was shown. Cu(SO4)2 (Copper
Sulfate) emitted green color with Cu +2 (Copper) metal ion, AlCl (Aluminium Chloride) has white
color during and Al+3 (Aluminium) is the present metal ion on it, But at some circumstances
observing at the flame was quite hard because it can’t be seen clearly.

CONCLUSION

The activity was successful gathering the data and the differences of the colors
produced by the metal ions (AlCl3, Cu(SO 4)2 and the unknown) when vaporized in the flame was
shown. The elements also present in the compound was also shown through the characteristics
of its colors. The observed color of the flame for Aluminum Chlorite was white, for Copper
Sulfate the color was green and for the unknown compound the color was red. No calculations
was done in this lab. The flame test lab was meant to teach about the flame colors as well as
what the flame colors mean as well as the frequency levels based off the color of the flame.

REFERENCES

Clark L. . “Flame Test Spectra ” Spectra Blog. Blogspot. Com, 2005.

Web. https://flametestspectra.blogspot/2005.article

Pasterz, G. “Flame Test Using Metal Salts ” Honors Chemistry Blog. Blogspot. Com, 2017.
Web. 6 Nov. 2017. https://edu.rsc.org/resources/flame-tests-using-metal-
salts/1875.article

Stockel, T.J. “Flame Test Lab.” Chemistry class handout. Arizona High School. Arizona, US.
Web.
7 Nov. 2019 https://robertamaador.weebly.com/flame-test-lab.html

Valenti, J. “Colors of Metallic Ions. Physical chemistry article. ArticleQoura, 2019. Web 6 Nov.
2019 https://www.polytechpanthers.com/apps/pages/index
APPENDICES

APPENDIX A

Data and results

APPENDIX B

DOCUMENTATIONS

Materials used in the experiment

Putting a microspatulaful into the
Taking a microspatulaful of AlCl3 evaporating dish
 Igniting the AlCl3 The flame of AlCl3

Putting 2-3 drops of water into the compound Stirring the compound

Igniting the Cu(SO4)2 The flame of copper sulfate

Cu(SO4)2