Connor Marshman 11/30/2009

Fabian Carazana

Flame Test and Spectroscopy

Purpose: The purpose of this lab is to use the flame test to identify different metals. The effects of cobalt glass on the light emitted from the potassium salts were observed. A spectroscope was used to observe Mercurys spectrum and determine each wavelengths frequency and wavelength. Procedure: Light the Bunsen burner and adjust the flame to form a blue cone about inches in height. !aturate enough wooden splints in deioni"ed water to perform the flame test with eight different salts. #ip a splint into the salt container and wave it through the flame ma$ing sure not to burn the splint. %epeat this process for each salt using a new splint every time. %ecord the colors of all the salts in the data chart. Based on the colors emitted by the other seven salts& determine the un$nown salt. 'stimate the wavelength of each salts color in nanometers and record them in the data chart also. (sing a spectroscope& observe and draw the line spectrum of the Mercury )*g+ geisler tube. ,alculate the frequency and energy for each wavelength. Data and Calculations:

Flame Test Results

Salt: Color of flame Wavelen gth in nm NaCl
Oran ge

KCl
Pink White (Light Purp e!

SrC l2
"e#

CuCl
$eon %reen

LiCl
Purp e "e# Purp e, )00 nm "e#, *00 nm

CaCl2
"e# Orange "e#, *00 nm Orange, (00 nm

BaCl2
Lime %reen

Unknow n
Orange &e o' Orange, ()0 nm &e o', (00 nm

()0 nm

)00 nm

*00 nm

+10 nm

+*0 nm

Connor Marshman 11/30/2009

Fabian Carazana

The chart above displays the flame color and wavelength for each salt from the flame test.

The above spectrum highlights the line spectrum of Mercury )*g+.

er!ur" S#e!tros!o#e Results

$ur#le Wavelen gth in nm Fre)uen !" *+,.nerg" */)10 nm *-32.101) 1/s )-/3.10,19 0 %n&igo )+0 nm (-(*.101) 1/s )-)2.10,19 0 'reen ++0 nm +-)+.101) 1/s 3-(1.10,19 0 (range ()0 nm )-(9.101) 1/s 3-11.10,19 0 Re& *10 nm )-23.101) 1/s 2-/0.10,19 0

The chart displays the frequencies& wavelengths& and energy of each wavelength in the Mercury line spectrum. This is one sample calculation for the indigo colored wavelength for Mercury.

Connor Marshman 11/30/2009

Fabian Carazana

Conclusion: -n conclusion& the light we see is $nown as the visible light spectrum. .e see an object with a specific color& because all the other wavelengths are absorbed e/pect for the specific wavelength which is reflected. The light given off by the flames was caused by e/cited atoms returning to their ground state. The atoms in each compound were e/cited by the heat from the flame and this caused the electrons to go to a higher energy level. 'ventually& the electrons fall bac$ to a lower energy level. As these electrons drop to a lower energy level& they release pac$ets of energy or photons. The energy released in photons all depends on the wavelength. 'ach metal gave off a different colored flame& and therefore gives off a different wavelength. 'ach element emits its own particular line spectra. Thin gases emit light only a few wavelengths& and thus only emit certain colors in the spectrum. The nonmetal part of the compound does not give off visible light so the metal is responsible for the color of the flame. 0rom my calculations - can conclude that the longer the wavelength& the lower the energy. - can also conclude that the

Connor Marshman 11/30/2009

Fabian Carazana

un$nown compound was li$ely 1a,l& because the flame it gave of had a similar flame color and wavelength.