Activity 4 - Flame Test For Metal - CRUZ ARJAY

ARJAY CRUZ
CIV101
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Observe and identify metallic ions using flame tests.
Determine and calculate the energy emitted from different kinds of metals by the color of its flame.
CONCEPTS INVOLVED
Have you ever wondered why a candle flame is yellow? The characteristic yellow of a candle flame
comes from the glow of burning carbon compounds. When elements, such as carbon, are heated to high
temperatures, some of their electrons are excited to higher energy levels. When these excited electrons
fall back to its ground state, they release excess energy in packages of light called photons, or light
quanta. The color of the emitted light depends on its energy. Blue light is more energetic than red light,
for example. When heated, each element emits a characteristic pattern of light energies, which is useful
for identifying the element. The characteristic colors of light produced when substances are heated in
the flame of a lighter or burner are the basis of flame tests for several elements. In this experiment, you
will perform the flame tests used to identify some metallic elements.
When an atom absorbs energy from a flame or electric charge, it absorbs energy necessary to excite its
electrons to a higher energy state When the atom from an excited state returns to a lower energy state,
it emits the energy previously absorbed in the form of light.
The energy of light is equal to the energy difference between the two energy states and is inversely
proportional to its wavelength. In mathematical equation
: E= h c𝛌 =h f
where: E= energy of light (Joules)
λ=wavelength ( m)
c = speed of light (3.00 x
10 8
ms
= frequency (
s− 1
h=Planck′sconstant=6.63 x 10− 34Joule. Seconds
MATERIALS/ Reagents
Concentrated Hydrochloric Acid (Muriatic acid)
Candle or lighter
Distilled water
platinum wire or nichrome wire (BBQ or Popsicle stick)
solution of potassium nitrate, KNO3
solution of calcium nitrate, Ca(NO3)2
solution of lithium nitrate, LiNO3

solution of sodium nitrate, NaNO3
solution of barium nitrate, Ba(NO3)2
solution of copper(II) nitrate, Cu(NO3)2 solution of strontium nitrate, Sr(NO3)2
SAFETY
The solutions used in this lab contain harmful materials. Avoid skin contact.
Wear your safety goggles.
Do not taste any of the substances or touch them with your hands (duh!).
Do not at any time touch the end of the wire loop used in the flame tests. This wire gets extremely hot
and can cause severe burns.
PROCEDURE
As you perform the experiment, record your observations in Data Table 1.

There is a separate wire loop for each solution of metal ions that you will test. Do not cross-
contaminate the wire loops.
Dip the wire loop into the test tube containing a solution of one of the metal salts. Heat the sample in
the burner flame. Record the color of the flame when the wire loop first enters the flame. Be creative
when describing the colors, for example use nail polish or Crayola crayon names. Test the remaining
samples in the same way, each with its own wire loop. Record your observations..
ANALYSIS
State the most important safety concern in this lab and the required precaution you took.
Describe the process taking place within an atom that leads to the emission of light.
What is the relationship between the energy of the emitted light (photon) and the electron energy levels
in an atom?
List the elements that produced the most easily identified colors.
Which elements are least easily identified? Explain.
Would flame tests be useful for detecting metal ions present in a mixture of metal ions? Explain.
The energy of colored light increases in the order red, yellow, green, blue, violet. List the metallic
elements used in the flame tests in increasing order of the energy of the light emitted.
What was the most probable source of error that would lead to incorrect observations?
Which has the highest energy? The least energy?
Observation:
Flame Minimum Maximum

color
Wavelength Frequency energy Wavelength Frequency Energy
Sodium Yellow 572 nm 524 THz 555nm 546 THz
nitrate Yellow 5.72 x 107 m 5.24 x 107 m 5.55 x 107 5.36 x 107 nm
NaNo3 → green nm
Potassium Light 671 nm 577 THz 443 nm 678 THz
nitrate blue
KNO3 Red → 5.20 x 107 m 5.77 x 107 m 4.43 x 107 6.78 x 107 m
violet m
Calcium Pale red 687 nm 447 THz 408 nm 735 THz
nitrate Red → 6.87 x 107 m 4.47 x 107 m 4.08 x 107 7.35 x 107 m
green m
Ca(NO3)2
Barium Green 687 nm 436 THz 534 nm 561 THz
Nitrate Red → 6.87 x 107 m 4.36 x 107 m 5.34 x 107 5.61 x 107 m
SrNO3 violet m
Strontium Red 673 nm 436 THz 408 nm 735 THz
Nitrate Red → 673 x 107 m 4.36 x 107 m 4.08 x 107 7.35 x 107 m
LiNO3 violet m
Lithium Red 620 m 445 THz 415 nm 722 THz
nitrate
Red → 6.20 nm x 4.45 x 107 m 4.15 x 107 7.22 x 107 m
violet 107 m m
Green 6.20 x 107 m 484 THz 530 nm 567 THz
Cu(NO3)2
Orange 6.20 x 107 m 484 x 107 m 5.30 x 107 5.67 x 107 m
→ green m
Copper Yellow 572 nm 524 THz 555 nm 546 THz
nitrate , orange
Cu(NO3)2 Yellow 5.72 x 107 m 524 x 107 m 5.55 x 107 5.46 x 107 m
→ green m

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ARJAY CRUZ

Observe and identify metallic ions using flame tests.

where: E= energy of light (Joules)

h=Planck′sconstant=6.63 x 10− 34Joule. Seconds

Concentrated Hydrochloric Acid (Muriatic acid)

platinum wire or nichrome wire (BBQ or Popsicle stick)

solution of potassium nitrate, KNO3

solution of calcium nitrate, Ca(NO3)2

solution of lithium nitrate, LiNO3

solution of barium nitrate, Ba(NO3)2

solution of copper(II) nitrate, Cu(NO3)2 solution of strontium nitrate, Sr(NO3)2

Wear your safety goggles.

As you perform the experiment, record your observations in Data Table 1.

Which elements are least easily identified? Explain.

Flame Minimum Maximum

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