Jonathan Ko

Honors Chemistry
Mr. Barrientes
Oct 26th 2015

The Effects of Different Metals on the Color in the Flame

Abstract:
The lab on the Effects of Different Metals on the Color in the Flame was a test to see if there
would be any effect of the color of the flame if there were different kinds of metal ions in the
fire. During the lab, 13 types of metal ions were tested and two were repeated with using a
cobalt glass. Five of the 13 metal ions were unknowns and were tested to be estimated to a
metal ion tested on the same day. Each color that appeared were observed and quickly written
down. The colors were all different and the cobalt glass gave a different perspective colors
making it extremely interesting.

Introduction:
Before “The Effects of Different Metals on the Color in the Flame” lab, other labs including has
been performed. Learning the basics of the fire such as, the products of flame, requirements for
a flame, characteristics of a flame, etc. The Flame Test lab has been perfected by Robert
Bunsen, who created the Bunsen burner. This lab has worked better with metal ions compared
to the actual metal. It has been found that metallic ions exhibit characteristic colors when
vaporized in the burner flame.

Materials:
Set of Metal Solutions:
-Sodium
-Lithium
-Strontium
-Barium
-Potassium
-Copper
Bunsen Burner
Metal loop
Unknown solutions
Cobalt glass plates

Procedure:
1. Light the Bunsen burner and adjust it so that it has a blue flame.
2. Using a clean metal loop, dip it into one of the solutions until it is saturated and then
hold the loop in the hottest part of the burner flame. Observe the color of the flame.
Carefully record your observations in the data table. Be accurate here – your description
 of the color must be accurate enough to distinguish this metal ion from the other ions
tested.
3. Record your observation for each solution. When you examine the sodium and
potassium ions, first look at their color alone, then test them again, looking through a
Cobalt glass plate.
4. When you have tested all the known solutions and can distinguish the color of each
metal ion, obtain unknown solutions and determine which metal ions are present by
performing a flame test and comparing this data to your previous data.

Results

Metal ion Color of Flame Picture

Sodium Yellowy Red

Sodium (Cobalt Glass) Purple

Lithium Red, Orange

Strontium Dark Red

Barium Yellow, Green

Potassium Lavender

Potassium (Cobalt Glass) Dark Pink

Copper Green

Sodium and Potassium Orange

Sodium and Potassium (Cobalt Dark Pink

Glass)
 Unknown #1 (Strontium) Red

Unknown #2 (Barium) Light Green

Unknown #3 (Sodium) Yellowy Red

Unknown #4 (Copper) Green

Unknown #5 (Lithium) Orange, Red

Discussion:

The data shows the that every metal has its own characteristics, making it have its own colors.
Even if there are metals with similar colors they will be different shades. The cobalt glass was
used to filter out the yellow flame that could have contaminated by Sodium. The errors that
could’ve happened during the test is that the metal ions could’ve not been still on the loop
while going onto doing another ion, making the old one be with the other. Also when dong the
potassium and sodium ion, one of the element could’ve had more of it than the other making
one more dominant over the other.

Conclusion:

Even though there were definite errors during the lab, it was done and the characteristics of
different metals were learned. Each metal has different colors because of their individual
unique characteristics. This data could be used in different labs such as what color does the
alkali metals burn in water. Through this lab it could be easily thought that potassium, a alkali
metal, would burn lavender color in water.