POST LAB QUESTIONS

Flame Test

Introduction:
Have you ever wondered what gives fireworks their colors? The colors are
from the energy released when the electrons move from higher to lower
energy levels. The electrons in the atoms were "excited" by being heated
causing the electrons to move to a higher energy level. Electrons do not stay
excited for long, however. The electrons quickly move to fill the lower
energy levels. To drop to a lower energy level, the electrons release the
extra energy as photons of electromagnetic energy. If this energy is in the
visible region of the spectrum, we can see it as colored light. But different
elements give off different colors. This is because atoms of each element
have uniquely different electron arrangements. Therefore, as the electrons
fall back to lower energy levels, energy is released in the distinctive patterns
of colors known as bright line spectra. Since each element emits a unique set
of wavelengths, bright line spectra can be used to identify the elements.
Generally metals, with their loosely held electrons, are the main elements
that can be excited in a flame. Therefore, flame tests are useful in the
identification of some metallic ions. However, not all metals give off energy
in the visible wavelengths. In this lab you will look at the colors given off by
metals when heated by a flame, i.e. the flame test colors.

1. Write down the colors of the rainbow in order from lowest energy to
highest energy.

2. Where will an e- move to when it absorbs heat? (Assume the e- stays

in the atom.)

3. Will the e- hold onto that energy? If not, what will happen to the
energy?

Equipment/Materials:
wooden splints, Bunsen burner, test tube rack, CLEAN test tubes (rinse with
distilled water first!), 0.5 M solutions of NaCl, LiCl, KCl, CuCl , CaCl , BaCl ,
2 2 2

MgCl , SrCl , CuSO .

2 2 4

Procedure:
1. Clean a test tube for each solution to be tested. Fill the test tube about
1/3 full with the solution to be tested (about 10 mL). Soak a couple of splints
in each test tube's solution for at least a minute. Hold the splint in a low
bunsen burner flame and record the main color that is emitted (other than
the color of the flame) in your data table. Do not let the splint burn!!!
Repeat for each of the metal ion solutions.

2. Place some solid NaCl crystals into the flame. Enter your observations in
your data table.

3. Soak a splint in a test tube that contains only distilled water. Flame the
splint and record the color emitted again making certain to not burn the
splint.

4. Pick two chemicals that had HIGHLY noticeable flame colors. Mix those
two solutions well and soak a new splint in the solution mixture. Flame the
splint and record the color.

Disposal:
All solutions may be disposed of in the sink; rinse down with lots of water.
Splints go into the garbage after any embers are wetted down.

Post lab questions

Answer the following questions carefully and completely.

1. Were the colors that you observed from the water or from the solute?
Support your idea with data from your lab.

2. What is a cation? What cations did you use in this lab?

3. What is the anion? What anions did you use in this lab?

4. Were the colors that you observed in the flame test from the anion or the
cation? Support your idea with data from your lab.

5. a. List the elements that gave the most easily identified colors.

b. Which elements are least easily identified?

6. Which element gives the most intense color?

7. Is the flame tests valuable for detecting cations present in a mixture of

cations? Explain.

8. List the cations used in the flame tests in increasing order of the energy
according to the light emitted.
9. When we flame test potassium, a single color is seen by our eyes. Does
this mean that only one color of light is being emitted from the potassium?
Explain.

10. Are the flame tests sensitive? (A sensitive test is one that allows for
positive results, even with a very low concentration of chemical.) Explain.

11. What difficulties (list at least two) might be encountered when using
flame tests for identification of cations?

12. A student recorded the following results when testing three unknown
chemicals. Identify the cations present in each chemical by using your data
table.

unknown 1: yellowish green

unknown 2: scarlet (deep red)

unknown 3: yellow/orange

13. During a flood, the labels from three bottles of chemicals floated away.
The unlabeled bottles of white solids were known to contain the following:
lithium nitrate, ammonium carbonate, and potassium sulfate. Explain what
you would have to do in order to tell which bottle contains which chemical.
You must describe what colors you would see and what the colors indicate.
14. a. Describe what happens to the electrons of an atom when the atom is
vaporized in a flame.

b. How does what is viewed through a diffraction grating differ from

what is seen with the unaided eye as an element emits its characteristic
color?

c. Which of the above is more useful in identifying an element: a flame

test using the unaided eye, or the view through the diffraction grating?
Explain.