EXPERIMENT 2: FLAME TEST

OBJECTIVES
• To describe the colour of a flame produced by an element.
• To produce a lab report based on the watched video
• To answer questions and complete data sheet provided

MATERIALS
 Nichrome wire with one end sealed in a glass rod
 Concentrated solutions (0.5 M) of:
1. Strontium chloride
2. Lithium chloride
3. Calcium chloride
4. Sodium chloride
5. Barium chloride
6. Potassium chloride
7. Copper (II) chloride

METHODS
1. The nichrome wire has been kept clean. About 5 mm off the end of the wire was snipped
after each use did this. Used ends was placed in the bin.
2. The clean wire was dipped into chloride solution and then into flame. The color seen was
recorded, and the wire was cleaned.
3. All the other solution provided was repeated.
4. The results obtained was used to see if can identify the metal ions present in the unknown
samples supplied.
RESULTS

SUBTANCES COLOUR OF FLAME

Lithium ,Li Pink tones
Natrium , Na Bright yellow
Potassium ,K lavender
Calcium , Ca Bright red
Strontium , Sr Pinkish red
Barium ,Ba Yellow green
Copper , Cu Bright blue green

DISCUSSION
The purpose of the lab was to find out the chemical elements based on the color of the
flame that elements make by their reaction. The work we completed in the lab was testing
the chemical effects of the flame from the chemicals. We tested different elements such as
Lithium Chloride (LiCl), Sodium Chloride (NaCl), Potassium Chloride (KCl), Calcium Chloride
(CaCl2), Strontium Chloride (SrCl2), Barium Chloride (BaCl2) and Copper II Chloride (CuCl2)
and wrote down our observations. I accomplished the knowledge of testing chemicals and
making responses based on our observations.
The flame test is used to visually determine the identity of an unknown metal or metalloid
ion based on the characteristic color the salt turns the flame color. The heat of the flame
converts the metal ions into atoms which become excited and emit visible light. When the
compound is excited by heating it in a flame, the metal ions will begin to emit light. Based on
the emission spectrum of the element, the compound will turn the flame a characteristic
color as shown in the result.
The color emitted by larger atoms is lower in energy than the light emitted by smaller
atoms. For example, strontium (atomic number 38) produces a reddish color, while sodium
(atomic number 11) produces a yellowish color. The sodium ion has a stronger affinity for
the electron, so more energy is required to move the electron. When the electron does
move, it reaches a higher state of excitement. As the electron returns to its ground state, it
has more energy to disperse, which means the color has a higher frequency and shorter
wavelength.

CONCLUSION
1. The color of the flame produced by an element was identified. Each of the color produced
by an element was different. Each color of an element we viewed using a flame.
2. A lab report was produce based on the video. The video has shown the different types of
element were test using a flame. A different color of an element were produced.
3. The question have been answered and data sheet provided have been complete. The
answer of the question is in the data that has been collected.

QUESTIONS
1. What is the color of the neon light?
Neon produces light that is orange-red.

2. Why does a sodium street lamp give off a different color light then a neon light?
The color of neon light is dependent on the gas or substance used in a(n) glass tube when
energy passes through, each gas or substance will produce its own light, thus why sodium
gives off a different light then neon light.
3. Why do some elements produce colourful flames?
When you heat an atom, some of its electrons are "excited” to higher energy levels. When
an electron drops from one level to a lower energy level, it emits a quantum of energy. The
different mix of energy differences for each atom produces different colours. Each metal
gives a characteristic flame emission spectrum.