Notre Dame of Dadiangas University Chem 1 Laboratory General and Inorganic Chemistry
Name:Shelly Mae O.Lazarito Score: _____________________
Course & Year:BSN 1-F Date Performed:12/21/2022
Class Schedule: ________________________ Date Submitted: 12/23/2022
Experiment 5
FLAME TEST
Objectives
1. To observe the flame colors emitted from selected ions
2. To identify metallic ions by the color emitted during vaporization of the element
Introduction
Electrons are said to be in the ground state under stable conditions. When
electrons are given energy from sources such as heat or electricity they absorb that
energy and temporarily jump to a higher energy level (excited state). When they return
to ground state they give off that energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation. If the
electromagnetic radiation falls between 400 and 700 nanometers (nm) in wavelength, it
is given off in the form of visible light.
When common metal ions are heated they give off a distinct color of visible light
(this is how fireworks get their color). These ions emit a unique color of light because
they consist of atoms that have a unique electron configuration. Chemists can identify
these elements with a flame test (see figure 1). The unique color that is observed
during a flame test is actually a mixture of several different wavelengths of visible light.
Chemists can use a spectroscope to identify these various wavelengths. The
spectroscope splits light to form an emission line spectrum (see figure 2).
Figure 1
Electromagnetic Spectrum
1|Page Ms. Edlyn Vega-Malusay
Notre Dame of Dadiangas University Chem 1 Laboratory General and Inorganic Chemistry
Materials and Reagents
Popsicle sticks CuSO4
Burner Ba(NO3)2
CaCl2 NaNO3
CuCl LiNO3
LiCl Sr(NO3)2
KCl KNO3
NaCl Ca(NO3)2
SrCl2
Procedures
1. Watch the video , http://www.mrpalermo.com/flame-test-data.html, to collect your
flame test data.
2. Write down the flame color for each metal ion in Table 1.
Table 1: Flame Test
Sample Metal Ion
(Cations)
Chemical Name Flame Color
Molecular Formula Responsible for
(IUPAC) Color
Calcium
CaCl2 Calcium chloride Deep orange
CuCl Copper chloride Copper Blue green
LiCl Lithium chloride Lithium Deep red
KCl Potassium chloride Potassium Pinkish
NaCl Sodium chloride Sodium Yellowish orange
SrCl2 Strontium chloride Strontium
3. Click https://javalab.org/en/flame_test_en/, a flame test simulation with other
different solutions.
4. Just click the solution to observe the color produced of various solutions.
5. Then record the color observe in Table 2.
2|Page Ms. Edlyn Vega-Malusay
Notre Dame of Dadiangas University Chem 1 Laboratory General and Inorganic Chemistry
Table 2: Flame Test
Sample Metal Ion
(Cations)
Molecular Chemical Name Flame Color
Responsible for
Formula (IUPAC) Color
NaNO₃ Sodium nitrate Sodium Yellow
LiNO₃ Lithium nitrate Lithium Red
Sr(NO₃)₂ Strontium nitrate Strontium Pinkish
KNO₃ Potassium nitrate Potassium Light purple
Ca(NO₃)₂ Calcium nitrate Calcium Light orange
CuSO₄ Copper Nitrate Copper Blue green
Ba(NO₃)₂ Barium Nitrate Barium Light green
Guide Questions
1. Compare the flame produced by the following:
1.1 CaCl2 and Ca (NO3)2
CaCl2- Deep orange
Ca(NO₃)₂ - Light orange
1.2 LiCl and LiNO3
LiCl- Deep red
LiNO₃- Red
1.3 CuCl and CuSO4
CuCl- Blue green
CuSO₄ - Blue green
1.4 Provide a generalization from the observations made.
Flame tests are used to identify the presence of a relatively small number of
metal ions in a compound. flame tests are usually by far the easiest way of
identifying which metal you have got. For other metals, there are usually other
easy methods that are more reliable
2. What is a flame test? What does the Law of Conservation of Energy have to do
with this type of experiment?
3|Page Ms. Edlyn Vega-Malusay
Notre Dame of Dadiangas University Chem 1 Laboratory General and Inorganic Chemistry
A flame test uses the concept of electron excitation to identify an element. By
adding energy to a sample and observing the specific wavelength light that is
produced, frequency and energy can be calculated.
3. What is the difference between incandescence and luminescence?
Luminescence is any emission of light from a substance that does not arise from
heating. Incandescence which is light emission due to elevation of the
temperature.
4. How do the atoms in a firework produce light?
Heating atoms causes electrons to move from their ground-energy level to a
higher energy level (blue arrow). When the excited electrons move to a lower
energy level (red arrow), they emit light with a specific energy and characteristic
color.
5. What happens to the atoms when energy is added?
An atom changes from a ground state to an excited state by taking on energy
from its surroundings in a process called absorption. The electron absorbs the
energy and jumps to a higher energy level. In the reverse process, emission, the
electron returns to the ground state by releasing the extra energy it absorbed.
References: (APA format)
2)https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Inorganic_Chemistry/
Supplemental_Modules_and_Websites_(Inorganic_Chemistry)/Descriptive_Chemistry/Elements_Organized_by_Block/1_s-
Block_Elements/Group__1%3A_The_Alkali_Metals/2Reactions_of_the_Group_1_Elements/Flame_Tests
3)https://www.mrl.ucsb.edu/sites/default/files/mrl_docs/ret_attachments/curriculum/flame%20test%20teacher
%20version.pdf
4)https://www.acs.org/content/dam/acsorg/education/resources/highschool/chemmatters/articlesbytopic/
oxidationandreduction/chemmatters-oct2010-fireworks.pdf
5)http://dept.harpercollege.edu/chemistry/chm/100/dgodambe/thedisk/spec/5back4.htm#:~:text=An%20atom%20changes
%20from%20a,the%20extra%20energy%20it%20absorbed.
4|Page Ms. Edlyn Vega-Malusay
