Flame Test Lab

Background: When atoms absorb energy, the electrons jump to a higher energy state. When the electrons fall back to the ground state, that energy is released as visible light. This light can be broken down into a bright line spectrum. Each element has its own unique bright line spectrum, because the arrangement of electrons in the atom is unique to each element. In this experiment, we shall use a flame to give atoms energy, and observe the flame color and bright-line spectrum. We will then use this data to identify an unknown atom. Materials: Beakers with solutions and wooden splints Spectrometer Bunsen burner and striker Inoculating loop Double cobalt glass square Procedure: 1. On a separate sheet of paper, create a data table with 6 columns and 14 rows. Label the 3rd, 4th and 5th boxes of the first row, Trial 1, Trial 2, Trial 3. Label the SECOND row as follows (in order): metal compound, color of flame, wavelength (nm), wavelength (nm), wavelength (nm), summary. Label the first column (starting with the 3rd row): CaCl2 solution, K2SO4 solution, Li2SO4 solution, Na2SO4 solution, SrCl2 solution, NaCl solution, NaCl crystals, Na2SO4 (cobalt glass), K2SO4 (cobalt glass), Na2SO4 and K2SO4, Na2SO4 and K2SO4 (cobalt glass), Unknown solution. 2. Look at the beakers on your lab bench. Be sure you have correctly identified each and matched it to the correct row in your data table. 3. Obtain and light a Bunsen burner. 4. Using ONE of the wooden splints in the beaker labeled CaCl2 solution, hold the splint in the flame. Observe the color of the flame. Take the splint out of the flame before it starts to burn, and place it back in the solution. Record. 5. Obtain a spectroscope. One person should look at the flame through the spectroscope while the other holds the wooden

splint in the fire. Use the same splint as before. Record the bright lines evident. 6. Repeat step 5, switching places. 7. If the data is different in step 5 and 6, do the procedure a third time. 8. Repeat steps 4-7 using the K2SO4 solution, Li2SO4 solution, Na2SO4 solution, SrCl2 solution, and NaCl solution. 9. Wet an inoculating loop in distilled water, and place it in the NaCl crystals to get some to stick. Hold the NaCl crystals in the flame and record your observations. NOTE: you will not use the spectroscope for this procedure, so you will not fill in the wavelength portion of the data table. 10. Obtain a double cobalt glass square. Test the Na2SO4 solution in the flame, looking at the flame through the cobalt glass. Repeat so both partners can observe. Record your observations. NOTE: you will not use the spectroscope for this procedure, so you will not fill in the wavelength portion of the data table. Test the K2SO4 solution in the flame, looking at the flame through the cobalt glass. Repeat so both partners can observe. Record your observations. NOTE: you will not use the spectroscope for this procedure, so you will not fill in the wavelength portion of the data table. Test the K2SO4 and Na2SO4 solution in the flame, without using the cobalt glass. Observe and record the flame color. NOTE: you will not use the spectroscope for this procedure, so you will not fill in the wavelength portion of the data table. Test the K2SO4 and Na2SO4 solution in the flame, looking at the flame through the cobalt glass. Repeat so both partners can observe. Record your observations. NOTE: you will not use the spectroscope for this procedure, so you will not fill in the wavelength portion of the data table. Using your knowledge gained through these procedures, test the unknown solution. Record your data.

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Clean Up

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Leave Bunsen burners, strikers, and the solutions on your lab bench. Return remaining items to the cart in the middle of the room. Put all used wood splints into the waste beaker on the cart in the middle of the room. Wash your hands before returning to your seat.

Questions: (answer separately, DO NOT work with your lab partner). 1. Examine your data table, and create a summary for the flame tests for each metal ion. Write this summary in the correct place in your data table. 2. Explain how viewing the flame under the cobalt glass can make it easier to analyze the ion being tested. 3. Explain how the lines seen in the spectroscope relate to the position of electrons in the metal atom. 4. What metal ion is in your unknown solution? How do you know? 5. How sensitive is the flame test? Could it be used to accurately identify metal ions? What difficulty could there be when identifying ions by the flame test. 6. Explain how you could use a spectroscope to identify the components of a solution with several different metal ions in it. 7. A student performed a flame test on several unknowns and observed that they all were shades of red. What should the student do to correctly identify these substances? Explain your answer. 8. Fireworks come in a variety of color. Explain how the fireworks manufacturers could get these colors. To Turn in: 1. Data sheet 2. Answers to questions

Do not turn in this paper.