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Activity 7

This document describes a flame test experiment to identify different metal ions based on the color they produce when heated. Students will perform flame tests on solutions of known metal salts like lithium, sodium, calcium, and copper to observe the characteristic flame colors and identify an unknown sample. Safety precautions and procedures are outlined.

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felix devan lopez
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22 views

Activity 7

This document describes a flame test experiment to identify different metal ions based on the color they produce when heated. Students will perform flame tests on solutions of known metal salts like lithium, sodium, calcium, and copper to observe the characteristic flame colors and identify an unknown sample. Safety precautions and procedures are outlined.

Uploaded by

felix devan lopez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Activity No.

7
FLAME TEST

INTRODUCTION

Every atom consists of a nucleus with tiny electrons whizzing around it. The
further away from the nucleus they are, the electrons get enough energy to jump higher
from the nucleus. When they fall back closer to the nucleus, they give off this extra
energy as light.
Different metals produce different colored light. If we look at the color of the
light made when a solution of metal is heated in a flame, we can tell which metal is
there.

Wavelength Region, nm Color


400-425 Violet
425-480 Blue
480-500 Blue-green
500-560 Green
560-580 Yellow-green
580-585 Yellow
585-650 Orange
650-700 Red

Figure 1 below is a diagram of the electromagnetic spectrum, showing various


properties across the range of frequencies and wavelengths.

Fig. 1. Electromagnetic spectrum diagram.


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OBJECTIVES
At the end of the experiment, the student should be able to:
1. Observe the characteristic flame colors of different metal ions;
2. Identify the flame color of a mixture of metal ions with and without the use
of cobalt glass; and
3. Identify an unknown metal salt from the color it imparted.

CHEMICALS AND MATERIALS

Chemicals Materials
Purified Water (250 mL) safety goggles gloves
0.5 g CaCl2•2H2O 0.5 g LiCl watch glass– 6 Bunsen burner
0.5 g SrCl2•6H2O 0.5 g KCl beakers (250-mL)– 2 beaker(50mL)- 7
0.5 g CuCl2•2H2O 0.5 g NaCl test tube (for unknown) watch glass– 6
wooden splints(soaked in H2O)-9 match
PROCEDURE
A. Known Metal Salts
1. Put on Safety Goggles.
2. Wear gloves when handling chemicals.
3. Obtain a 250-mL beaker about half-full with distilled or deionized water. Obtain six
wooden splints that have been soaked in distilled or deionized water. Place them in
this beaker of water to continue soaking at your lab station.
4. Fill a second 250-mL beaker about half-full with tap water. Label this beaker “rinse
water”.
5. Obtain six small beakers labeled “CaCl2”, “CuCl2”, “LiCl”, “NaCl”, “KCl”, “SrCl2” each
containing a small amount (about 0.5 g) of each metallic solid correspondingly.
6. Dip the soaked end of one of the wooden splints in one of the metallic salts.
7. Light a burner and then place the “dipped” wooden splint into the flame. Observe the
color of the flame. Allow the splint to burn until the color fades. Try not to allow any
of the solid to fall onto your desk. If necessary, repeat the test with the same splint
and salt.
8. Immerse the wooden splint in the “rinse water” to fully extinguish it. Then discard
into the trash.
9. Record your observations for the flame color produced by the metallic salt in the
Data Table.
10.Repeat Steps 6–8 for the other five metallic salts. Record your observations for the
flame color produced by each metallic salt.

B. Mixture of Metal Salts


1. Dip the soaked end of another wooden splint in a NaCl- KCl salt mixture. Record the
color of the flame.
2. Repeat B.1 but this time, view the flame through a cobalt glass or its equivalent.
Cobalt glass is also used as an optical filter in flame tests to filter out the yellow flame
caused by contamination with sodium, and expand the ability to see violet and blue
hues. Note and record the color of the flame.
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C. Unknown Metal Salt/s
1. From the color of each metal salts in procedure A, repeat the flame test for
your unknown.

2. Identify your unknown metal salt/s.


3. Clean up your area, put everything away, and wash your hands before leaving the
lab.

REFERENCES

1. https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-applications-of-electromagnetic-
oscillations-and-electromagnetic-wave
2.https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=radiation+type+wavelength&rlz=1C1AVNE_e
nPH628PH628&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=VLO8O8cQo1WNzM%253A%252C
5I6i8EJ0ysnPwM%252C_&usg=__iF_lAm1eFjDFEWKR0TVCQmAD6jw%3D&sa=X&v
ed=0ahUKEwitlaqg6vfbAhVLAogKHWkUCwAQ9QEIRTAG#imgrc=VLO8O8cQo1WNz
M:
3. https://www.google.com/search?source=hp&ei=l7g1W-j8JIqu8QXqj7a4Bg&q=
how+does+cobalt+glass+filter+works&oq=how+does+cobalt+glass+filter+works&gs_l
=psy-ab.3..33i22i29i30k1l2.1437.9279.0.9676.34.30.0.4.4.0.247.4224.0j21j3.24.
0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..6.28.4267...0j0i131k1j0i22i30k1.0.9dyySqE5WAE

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