Experiment 2 - Chemlab

Far Eastern University | Institute of Arts and Sciences
Inorganic and Organic Chemistry
Laboratory Experiments 2024 Edition
DATA SHEET EXP 2 | Flame Test of Metal Cations
SECTION & GROUP BIO2101-Lab-Sec2-MN | Group III DATE (MM/DD) 09/16/2024
1. AVILA, Kristhea Andrey R. INSTRUCTOR’S

GROUP MEMBERS 1. BOLO, Radha Chloe P. SIGNATURE
Alphabetical Order 2. FOJA, Kurt Eugene Anthony G.
SN, GN, MI 3. OABEL, Maria Charice R. SCORE
4. PARAYAOAN, Khalif Aljho B.
Approximate
Dominant Color Flame Duration
Solution Wavelength Frequency (Hz)
(attach a 1x1 picture) (seconds)
(nm)
NaCl 587 nm 5.03x10

14 4.75 s
KCl 622 nm 4.82x10

14 5.59 s
SrCl2 609 nm 4.93x10

14 5.83 s
CaCl2 609 nm 4.93x10

14 4.91 s
BaCl2 587 nm 5.11x10

14 5.68 s
POST-LABORATORY EXP 2 | Flame Test of Metal Cations
SECTION & GROUP BIO2101-Lab-Sec2-MN | Group III DATE (MM/DD) 09/16/2024
2. AVILA, Kristhea Andrey R. INSTRUCTOR’S

GROUP MEMBERS 5. BOLO, Radha Chloe P. SIGNATURE
Alphabetical Order 6. FOJA, Kurt Eugene Anthony G.
SN, GN, MI 7. OABEL, Maria Charice R. SCORE
8. PARAYAOAN, Khalif Aljho B.
POST-LABORATORY QUESTIONS
1. Which among the solids that were tested produced a flame that has a dominant color with the
longest wavelength? Which one gave the shortest wavelength?
Among the solids tested, barium chloride had the longest wavelength, while potassium chloride
had the shortest wavelength.
2. Why are there different colors emitted by different metal cations? Explain why chloride
solutions of the metals were used instead of the metal themselves.
When metal cations are heated, they produce distinct light colors. These different light colors
are due to their various electronic configurations. The color emitted largely depends on the
energy difference between the excited state and the ground state of the electrons of the metal
ions. To analyze the existence of numerous metals, replacing these metals with their chloride
solutions can provide advantages like safety, solubility, and sensitivity.
3. Research the chemistry of fireworks. Identify the chemical compounds in fireworks and
the color corresponding to the wavelength they produce.
A mesmerizing demonstration of chemistry, fireworks combine different chemical compounds to

create vivid colors and effects. Black powder, also known as gunpowder, is the main ingredient
in pyrotechnics. It is made up of sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate. The firework is
launched, and its effects are ignited by this mixture, which serves as a propellant. Several
metal salts cause fireworks' vibrant hues. For example, calcium salts like calcium chloride
provide orange hues with wavelengths around 590-620 nm, while strontium salts like strontium
carbonate produce red colors with wavelengths around 620-750 nm. Colors produced by
sodium compounds, such as sodium nitrate, have wavelengths between 570 and 590 nm,
while colors produced by barium compounds, such as barium chloride, have wavelengths
between 495 and 570 nm. Blue colors, which have wavelengths between 450 and 495 nm, are
caused by copper compounds, such as copper(I) chloride. Strontium and copper compound
mixes can produce purple by combining red and blue wavelengths. Moreover, a wide range of
visible light can be emitted by silver or white sparks from metals like magnesium, titanium, or
aluminum.
Luminescence and incandescence are the two primary processes that produce the colors in
pyrotechnics. Heat-induced light is known as incandescence, and it occurs when metals burn
intensely to produce silver or white sparks. In contrast, luminescence refers to light production
in the absence of heat. The electrons in metal salts are stimulated to higher energies when
heated. They emit energy in the form of light when they settle back to their ground state,
creating distinct colors. Knowing the chemistry of fireworks improves their visual impact and
guarantees accuracy and safety throughout production. Pyrotechnicians create and perform
fireworks shows; this knowledge is essential to making each spectacular visually stunning and
safe.
CONCLUSIONS
The emission spectra of various chloride salts—NaCl, KCl, SrCl₂, CaCl₂, and BaCl₂—were
analyzed to determine their characteristic wavelengths, frequencies, and emission durations.
NaCl and BaCl₂ both emitted a yellow light with a wavelength of 587 nm. NaCl exhibited a
frequency of 5.03 × 10¹⁴ Hz and an emission duration of 4.75 seconds, while BaCl₂ showed a
slightly higher frequency of 5.11 × 10¹⁴ Hz and a longer emission duration of 5.68 seconds. KCl
emitted a red-orange light with a wavelength of 622 nm, a frequency of 4.82 × 10¹⁴ Hz, and an
emission duration of 5.59 seconds. SrCl₂ and CaCl₂ both emitted orange light at 609 nm with
identical frequencies of 4.93 × 10¹⁴ Hz, though their emission durations differed, with SrCl₂ at
5.83 seconds and CaCl₂ at 4.91 seconds.
The variation in wavelength and frequency among the salts is consistent with the unique
electronic transitions of each element when subjected to high-energy excitation, leading to
distinct spectral lines. The similar emissions observed for SrCl₂ and CaCl₂, as well as NaCl and
BaCl₂, suggest comparable energy transitions for these compounds, though minor differences
in frequency and emission duration indicate slight variations in their atomic structures. The
distinct spectral characteristics for each compound affirm that flame tests and spectral analysis
can effectively identify metal ions in compounds based on their emission spectra.
REFERENCES
Clark J. (2018) Flame Test. chemguide

https://www.chemguide.co.uk/inorganic/group1/flametests.html
Flame Test of Metal Cations. (n.d.). LibreTexts Chemistry.

https://chem.libretexts.org/Ancillary_Materials/Laboratory_Experiments/Wet_Lab_Experi
ments/General_Chemistry_Labs/Online_Chemistry_Lab_Manual/Chem_10_Experiment
s/08%3A_Flame_Tests_of_Metal_Cations_(Experiment)

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Far Eastern University | Institute of Arts and Sciences

Inorganic and Organic Chemistry

Laboratory Experiments 2024 Edition

DATA SHEET EXP 2 | Flame Test of Metal Cations

SECTION & GROUP BIO2101-Lab-Sec2-MN | Group III DATE (MM/DD) 09/16/2024

1. AVILA, Kristhea Andrey R. INSTRUCTOR’S

NaCl 587 nm 5.03x10

KCl 622 nm 4.82x10

SrCl2 609 nm 4.93x10

CaCl2 609 nm 4.93x10

BaCl2 587 nm 5.11x10

Inorganic and Organic Chemistry

Laboratory Experiments 2024 Edition

POST-LABORATORY EXP 2 | Flame Test of Metal Cations

SECTION & GROUP BIO2101-Lab-Sec2-MN | Group III DATE (MM/DD) 09/16/2024

2. AVILA, Kristhea Andrey R. INSTRUCTOR’S

A mesmerizing demonstration of chemistry, fireworks combine different chemical compounds to

Inorganic and Organic Chemistry

Laboratory Experiments 2024 Edition

Inorganic and Organic Chemistry

Laboratory Experiments 2024 Edition

Clark J. (2018) Flame Test. chemguide

Flame Test of Metal Cations. (n.d.). LibreTexts Chemistry.

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