Kami Export - Lab - Flame Spectrum Test

Julian Garcia
3 9 / 18 / 2024
Lab Name: Atomic Theory – Flame Spectrum Test

Due Date: __________
Julian Garcia, Jasmyn, and David

Group Members: _______________________________________________________________
Purpose Have you ever wondered why a candle flame is yellow? The characteristic yellow of a candle flame
comes from the glow of burning carbon fragments. The carbon fragments are produced by the
incomplete combustion of the wick and candle wax. When elements such as carbon are heated to high
temperatures, some of their electrons are excited to higher energy levels, and they release excess energy
in packages of light called photons, or light quanta. The color of the emitted light depends on its
energy. Blue light is more energetic than red light, for example. When heated, each element emits a
characteristic pattern of light energies, which is useful in identification of the element. The
characteristic colors of light produced when substances are heated in the flame of a gas burner are the
basis of flame tests for several elements. In this experiment, you will perform the flame tests used to
identify several metallic elements based on the characteristically colored flame emitted.
Description The set-up for this lab includes the use of a Bunsen burner to vaporize small samples various solutions
of Set-up of metal ions. A sample of each solution will be located at a lab table and lab groups will rotate
through all samples to observe the colors released by each sample. The tests will be executed using a
pipe cleaner as the sampling tool.
Materials Safety goggles and lab apron Pipe cleaner
and Test tube rack at each lab table containing 1 of
7 known solutions
Equipment Bunsen burner & flint striker
Procedure
1. Put on safety goggles and lab apron.
2. DO NOT TOUCH THE TEST TUBES AT ANY TIME DURING THIS EXPERIMENT
3. Your lab group will initially start out at a particular lab table.
4. Ignite your Bunsen burner as previously instructed and obtain a blue flame that is about 3-4 inches high.
5. Carefully remove the pipe cleaner tool from the test tube sample and then place into the flame of the Bunsen
burner. Observe and record the (initial) color of the flame produced in your data table. Make sure you place your
observation in the correct row of the observed solution.
6. Replace the pipe cleaner in the test tube, turn off the Bunsen burner as previously instructed, and wait for your
instructor to signal all the groups to rotate.
7. After rotating to your new lab table, repeat steps 4, 5 & 6 for the new sample.
8. After rotating through all lab tables and testing the last sample, wait for your instructor to perform the final
procedure in the lab.
9. Your instructor will test an unknown sample and you must identify the sample by comparing the colors of the
known samples.
10. Write the identity of the unknown sample in the space provided.
11. Clean and organize the lab station.
12. Wash hands with soap and water.
1
Julian Garcia
3 9 / 18 / 2024
Data Table
Name Formula Observations
Copper (II) chloride CuCl2 Bright lime green
Lithium chloride LiCl Hot pink red
Sodium chloride NaCl Bright yellow and orange
Potassium chloride KCl Pink and orange
Calcium chloride CaCl2 dark yellow and orange
Strontium chloride SrCl2 red and yellow
Barium chloride BaCl2 yellow and white
Analysis of Data / Results

1.) What is the same in each sample of the solution?
They change when they're in the fire.
2.) What elements are responsible for producing the different colors? (Write all seven)
cucl2, licl, nacl, kcl, cacl2, srcl2, bacl2
3.) Which element produced the most intense green color?
cul2
4.) Which of the following elements produced a reddish flame: sodium, copper, or lithium?
lithium
5.) List the metallic elements in question 4 in increasing order of the energy of light emitted.
UNKNOWN Sample Identity Name strontium chloride

: ____________________________________
Conclusion
Explain what is occurring with the electrons in the energy levels of the vaporized metal ions to cause the emission of
characteristic colors of light for each individual element. Please write a minimum of 5 complete sentences.
The electrons get excited when they're in a high level of energy from the heat.

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Julian Garcia

Lab Name: Atomic Theory – Flame Spectrum Test

Julian Garcia, Jasmyn, and David

Analysis of Data / Results

UNKNOWN Sample Identity Name strontium chloride

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