Flame Color of Metals

Arkel Jed Angelo G. Espaar Lassanah Mamadu A. Keita De La Salle University-Dasmarias Dasmarias, Cavite Philippines
ABSTRACT

Our topic was the flame colors in the metals. The procedures were dipping the end of a platinum / nichrome wire into concentrated HCl, heating the wire in the flames hottest region until there is no visible color, repeat this cleaning if needed. On a watch glass, add a few crystals of CaCl to 2/ 3 drops of distilled water, and then stir it. Next, dip the clean wire into the salt solution & return it to the hottest part. Note the flame color. And then repeat the process using other salts. The results were the flames having different colors & the substances were hard to remove. It was also hard to determine which color the flames were showing.
INTRODUCTION

The current model of an atom includes a nucleus, consisting of protons & neutrons, surrounded by electrons. According to experiments on atomic absorption & emission spectra, the energy of electrons is quantized. It means that each electron in an atom has a definite energy.

Where: E is the energy of light c is the speed of light (3.00x h is Plancks constant 6.63x v is the frequency of light By using these formulas we can derive the energy released by the different kinds of metal ions that will be used in the experiment by the color of the flame when heated. )

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Turn on the Bunsen burner

Dip the end of a platinum or nichrome wire into the concentrated HCI (6-7 ml) that is placed in a beaker. -

Heat the wire in the flame until there is no visible color.

Repeat this process as necessary.

On a watch glass, add a few crystals of CaC

to 2-3 drops of water using a medicine dropper.

Use the stirring rod to stir and dissolve the crystals.

Dip the wire into the salt solution and return it to the hottest point of the flame. Note the flame color. Repeat the process using: Sodium (NaC1) Copper (CuC ) Lithium (LiC1) Potassium (KC1) Barium (BaC ) Strontium

Record and compute all the results.

Figure 1: Schematic Diagram of Experimental Procedure

The materials that we used were: beaker, Bunsen burner, Triple beam balance, Watch glass, stirring rod, medicine dropper, and platinum or nichrime wire. While the reagents are: Sodium (NaC1), Copper (CuC ), Lithium (LiC1), Potassium (KC1), Barium (BaC ), Strontium. A detailed step by step method is shown above in Figure 1 on how to conduct the experiment.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table 1.1 Results of Flame Spectra Metal Ion Calcium (Ca) Copper (Cu) Sodium (Na) Lithium (Li) Potassium (K) Barium (Ba) Strontium Color
Blue-green Red Orange Red Yellow

V (Hz)
6.06 4.42 4.83 4.42 5.10

(nm)
495 680 622 680 587

E (J)

Red

4.42

680

In Table 1.1, the results show us that the metal ion with the highest release of energy is Calcium (Ca) that has a release of Joules. But it also has many metal ions with the same color. This result may have been caused by
impurities in the nichrome wire since each metal ion should have exhibited a different color.

REFERENCES Samonte, Joseph L.; Figueroa, Lolibeth V. General Chemistry Laboratory Manual 3 Publishing, Inc. 2007
rd

Edition C&E

Prepared by:

Arkel Jed Angelo G. Espaar, BS Computer Engineering

Freshman College of Engineering, Architecture, and Technology De La Salle University-Dasmarias Dasmarias, Cavite Philippines

Lassanah Mamadu A. Keita, BS Computer Engineering

Freshman College of Engineering, Architecture, and Technology De La Salle University-Dasmarias Dasmarias, Cavite Philippines