Flame Test Lab by

Materials

17leem024 — 2013-10-23 00:54:25 UTC

Bunsen burner

7 test tubes

label tape or masking tape

coffee stirrers or popsicle sticks

Test tube rack

Matches

Flashlight (if needed)

Page 92 of textbook (visible spectrum) or color wheel with wavelengths

Safety goggles

Lab apron or coat

Solutions

17leem024 — 2013-10-23 00:57:26 UTC

0.5 M solutions of Na+, K+, Li+, Ca2+, Sr2+, Ba2+, Cu2+, and Pb2+

Unknown solution of a metal ion

Procedure

17leem024 — 2013-10-23 01:01:41 UTC

Label the test tubes with the ions to be tested in the experiment the label tape or masking tape. If the test tubes are labeled already, place the corresponding solutions into each of the test tubes.
Obtain some popsicle sticks or coffee stirrers and place one in each test tube to soak for 1 minute.
Light the Bunsen burner. Adjust the flame to get a favorable air and gas mixture. Remember that the hottest part of the flame is on the tip of the inside cone.
Place the wet end of the wooden stick directly into the hottest part of the flame. Observe the FIRST COLOR YOU SEE as the liquid vaporizes.
Describe the color you see the best you can. Use the table on page 92 of the Holt text or the color wheel to determine the wavelength of light you see emitted by the metal ion solution. Record this information on your lab report.
Dispose of the burnt sticks into the metal can provided. Make sure that the sticks are out by burying them in the sand.
Repeat steps 4-6 for each solution. Remember: Make good descriptions of each color, as some may look similar.
Obtain an unknown from the instructor. Repeat steps 4-6 for the unknown. Use your data to determine what the unknown ion is.
When done taking observations, clean each test tube with soap and water. Dry the outside of the test tubes and place them in the rack for the next period. Return the burners and chemicals where you got them.
Flow Chart:
1. Get a Bunsen Burner.
2. First put the fire on the Bunsen Burner and turn on the gas.
3. Stick the popsicle stick inside the fire and see what color it is.

Data and Observations

17leem024 — 2013-10-23 01:01:57 UTC

Create a data table in your lab report that will include the following information (refer to example)

a. The metallic ions, including a section for the unknown

b. The color of the observed flame (be as descriptive as possible)

Data Chart:

Unknown:

17leem024 — 2013-10-23 02:49:42 UTC

greenish orange

We think it's Copper 2 because Copper 2 also consist greenish orange.

Na+ Sodium

17leem024 — 2013-10-23 02:53:06 UTC

bright yellowish orange

Li+ Lithiun

17leem024 — 2013-10-23 02:54:26 UTC

bright hot pinkish red

Ca 2+ Calcium

17leem024 — 2013-10-23 02:55:08 UTC

bright orange

Sr 2+ Strontium

17leem024 — 2013-10-23 02:55:58 UTC

orange red

Ba 2+ Barium

17leem024 — 2013-10-23 02:56:45 UTC

whitish yellow

Cu 2+ Copper 2 (Roman numeral)

17leem024 — 2013-10-23 02:57:23 UTC

greenish yellow orange

Pb 2+ Lead 2 (Roman numeral)

17leem024 — 2013-10-23 02:58:31 UTC

light orange

Conclusions and Questions:

17leem024 — 2013-10-23 18:03:34 UTC

(use complete sentences)

1. What is the identity of your unknown (make sure to indicate which unknown you received)?

2. What color did the unknown exhibit that led you to your conclusion? Which ESLR was address

1. The identity of our unknown was Copper 2.

2. The color of the unknown exhibited greenish orange and Copper 2 exhibited greenish yellow orange. Critical thinker was addressed because we used our knowledge and sensed that since the unknown and Copper 2 consist almost the same color, they are the same.

Questions

17torresaa181 — 2013-10-25 03:59:56 UTC

1. What is that you are doing?
A: We were doing an experiment to show how a color releases from an element under heat.

2. Why does this happen? (Why do elements produce colors when they are in a bunsen burner flame? Use phrases like ground state, excited state, electrons, energy levels).

A: Electrons get an excited state and they jump up and down and when the electron releases, the color shows, which is visible.

3. How did you do it? (image of setup like a google drawing or a photo, simple procedure; How did you do the experiment?)

A: We did the experiment wit a tube, bunsen burner, matches, and coffee stirrers with the element on it. (google drawings and pictures are on the bottom).

4. What happened? (data table with color descriptions, names, formulas of ions, including your unknown)

A: What happened is that when you put the coffee stirrers into the flame the element reacts with the flame and releases a color. ( data table,color description, and names are in the bottom).

5. How did you determine your unknown chemical? (What was your unknown ion? Why do you think that it is that ion?)

A: We determine that our unknown element was copper 2 because it had the same colors and there were similar.