Experiment 2a

Objective:

To employ Flame Tests as a method to identify compounds containing elements from

Group 1 and Group 2 based on their distinctive flame colors.

Reagents & Apparatus:

Looped wire for flame test, dilute hydrochloric acid, dropper, watch glass, Bunsen

burner, platinum or tungsten wire, spatula, electronic balance, sodium chloride, barium

chloride, calcium chloride

Procedures:

1. Half a spatula of a solid provided (A, B, or C) was transferred in a watch glass.

2. A few drops of diluted HCl solution was added on to the solid, to make a paste.

3. A clean piece of platinum or tungsten wire was dipped into the acidic paste.

4. The wire at the edge of a blue Bunsen flame was held and the color of the flame

was recorded.

Precaution steps:

1. Handle hot objects like the Bunsen burner and looped wire with caution to avoid
burns or accidents.
2. Re-dipping the wire in acid and reintroducing it to the flame can yield a short but
intense flash of color if the initial flame color is weak.

Results:
 Test Observation The cation presents it….
Unknown A Yellow-orange flame Sodium ion
Unknown B Green flame Barium ion
Unknown C Red flame Calcium ion

Theoretical result:

In theory, the flame of sodium ion (Na+) should be strong persistent yellow-orange color,
Barium ion (Ba+) should be pale green color, meanwhile Calcium ion (Ca+) should be
orange-red color (Jim Clark, 2005).

Discussion:

The experiment involving burning various metals to observe the colors produced by
their reactions revealed that each metal has distinct characteristics and exhibits unique
flame colors. These colors are a result of electron excitement due to increased
temperature. As electrons transition from their ground state to higher energy levels, they
emit visible light when they return to their ground state. The color emitted during this
process is connected to the electron's location and its affinity to the atomic nucleus.

Compounds with different electron configurations exhibit different colors of light, and
elements with similar electron configurations display similar flame colors. This is
because larger atoms emit lower energy colors, while smaller atoms emit higher energy
colors. Sodium ions, for example, require more energy to move electrons due to their
stronger electron affinity, resulting in higher excitement levels. When electrons return to
their ground state, they disperse more energy, leading to colors with higher frequency
and shorter wavelengths.

The perceived color of the emitted light is determined by the wavelength of visible light.
Red light has the longest wavelength, while violet light has the shortest wavelength.
Therefore, the observed flame colors can vary based on the electron configurations and
the affinity of the atoms involved. While some colors may appear similar, they are
actually present in different shades, reflecting the specific electron transitions occurring
within each metal.

Questions for Discussion:

1. Explain how the Flame Tests could be used to identify the compounds.

The flame test is a method used to visually identify unknown metal or metalloid ions by
observing the characteristic color they impart to a flame produced by a Bunsen burner.
When these metal ions are exposed to the heat of the flame, their electrons become
excited and emit visible light. Each element has a unique emission spectrum, which
means they emit light at specific wavelengths. By analyzing the colors emitted during
the flame test, it is possible to differentiate between different elements and identify the
specific element present based on its signature emission spectrum.

2. Give a use for these Flame Tests.

Flame tests are utilized to detect the presence of a limited range of metal ions within a
compound.

Conclusion:

During the experiment, the flame colors of various elements were identified. Sodium
ions (Na+) produced a yellow-orange flame, barium ions (Ba+) exhibited a green flame,
and calcium ions (Ca+) resulted in a red flame. These observations indicate that
different elements exhibit distinct colors when exposed to a flame.

References:

Jim Clark, (2005). Flame Tests. Retrieved

Fromhttps://www.chemguide.co.uk/inorganic/group1/flametests.html
Experiment 2b

Objective:

To examine and analyze three different redox reactions,

(A) Reaction between a metal and a dilute acid

(B) Metal-metal ion displacement reaction
(C) Halogen displacement reaction.

Result:

A. Metal-Acid Reaction

Metal Used Observation: Reaction with dilute HCI (aq)

Copper No reaction
Zinc Formation of bubble gas slowly
Zinc strips become thinner
Magnesium Formation of bubble gas instantly
Magnesium strip become thinner and disappear

Discussion:

A redox reaction is characterized by simultaneous oxidation and reduction

processes, which occur when a more reactive substance displaces a less reactive
substance from its salt solution. In the first experiment, a copper strip was used, but
since copper is less reactive than hydrogen in the reactivity series, it was unable to
displace hydrogen from hydrochloric acid, resulting in no observable reaction.

On the other hand, when zinc reacts with hydrochloric acid, the zinc strip
gradually becomes thinner, and colorless bubbles of hydrogen gas are released.
This reaction can be represented by the chemical equation: Zn(s) + 2HCl(aq) →
ZnCl2(aq) + H2(g). It is a redox reaction as the oxidation number of hydrogen
decreases from +1 to 0, indicating reduction, while the oxidation number of zinc
increases from 0 to +2, indicating oxidation. In this case, hydrochloric acid acts as
the oxidizing agent, causing the oxidation of zinc.

Similarly, a redox reaction takes place between a magnesium strip and

hydrochloric acid, resulting in the formation of magnesium chloride salt and the
release of hydrogen gas. Magnesium, being more electropositive than hydrogen in
the electrochemical series, undergoes oxidation to form cations, while hydrogen in
hydrochloric acid undergoes reduction to form anions. As a consequence, the
magnesium strip gradually diminishes in size, and colorless bubbles of hydrogen gas
are liberated. The balanced chemical equation for this reaction is: 2Mg(s) + 2HCl(aq)
→ MgCl2(aq) + H2(g).

B. Metal-metal Ion Reaction

Solution Magnesium Copper (II) sulphate (aq)

Metal sulphate (aq)
Magnesium No reaction  The Blue colour of
copper (II) sulphate
solution become
colourless
 Form dark-brown
precipitated
Zinc No reaction  The Blue colour of
copper (II) sulphate
solution become
colourless
 Form black precipitated
Copper No reaction No reaction

C. Halogen displacement Reaction

Reaction Observation before Colour of the hexane
adding hexane layer
Cl2 + KBr The clear yellow colour Colourless hexane layer
turn to pale yellow change to light brown
colour
CL2 + KI The colourless solution Colourless hexane layer
turn to brown change to red colour
Br2 + KCI Yellow colour changes to Colourless hexane layer
light yellow change to pale orange
colour
Br2 + KI Yellow colour changes to Colourless hexane layer
reddish-brown colour change to light purple
I2 + KCI Light yellow colour Colourless hexane layer
change to yellow change to dark purple
I2 + KBr Light yellow colour Colourless hexane layer
changes to yellow change to dark purple