Atomic Energy Lab
Instructions: Complete all sections of this report and answer all questions in complete sentences
for full credit.
Title: atomic energy lab
Objective(s): figure out the composition of not known elements and new star using a
burner and a spectrometer
Hypothesis: the flames will change color based on the element that is shown to the flames
and of light reacts to certain elements
Materials: What scientific equipment and tools were used to collect data in the simulation?
(Record the materials as you work through the simulation.)
Part I Materials Part II Materials
Bunsen burner, Barium, spectroscope, light source,
calcium,sodium, rubidium, potassium, Hydrogen,helium, neon, mercury,
litmus,test tubes, platinum wire, prism, heat,spectrum, slit
hydrochloric acid
grad cylinder
Variables: Remember the three variables: controlled (what is kept the same), independent (what
is tested or changed), and dependent (what is the outcome or observed). List variables below as
you work through the simulation.
Variable Part I Variables Part II Variables
Controlled test tube, prism,
Independent Element used Element used
Dependent Color of flame Light on colorspectrum
Procedure: Clear steps are in the simulation. No written procedure is needed for this virtual
experience. However, it is important that you understand the experimental design of this lab for
the conclusion section.
Unless Otherwise Noted All Content © 2022 Florida Virtual School. FlexPoint Education Cloud™ is a
trademark of Florida Virtual School.
Data: Record your measurements below using the correct number of significant figures. The
saved results of your measurements can also be found by selecting the data table button within
the virtual lab.
Note: First trials have been completed as a model. You still need to go through trial 1 in the
simulation.
Part I: Flame Tests
Element Color Description
Barium Light green throughout flame
Calcium Light red
Sodium Light Yellow
Rubidium light purple
Potassium Light blue
Lithium light pink
Unknown One Light pink
Unknown Two Light blue
Part II: Spectrometry
Spectrum Hydrogen Helium Neon Mercury Star
Line 9 lines 5 lines 10 lines 8 lines 6 lines
1 purple, 410 Blue, 450 nm Light purple, dark blue, purpld,
nm 420 nm 430nm 410nm
2 blue, 440 nm Light green, green, 510nm blue, 450nm purple, 420nm
510 nm
3 green, 510 nm Yellow 590 lime, 520nm green, 540nm blue, 440nm
4 light green, red, 690 nm green, 530nm lime, 550nm cyan, 500nm
540 nm
5 light green, Dark red, 730 yellow, 570 yellow, Light green,
550 nm nm nm 570nm 550nm
6 yellow, 570 yellow, red, 670nm yellow,
nm 570nm 580nm
7 red, 650 nm red, 700nm red, 690nm red, 700nm
8 red, 680 nm red , 710nm red, 710nm red, 710nm
9 red, 700 nm red , 720nm
10 dark red,
750nm
If possible, it might be helpful to take a screenshot of the elements from the Compare tab in the
lab to help with conclusions.
Unless Otherwise Noted All Content © 2022 Florida Virtual School. FlexPoint Education Cloud™ is a
trademark of Florida Virtual School.
Conclusion
Using complete sentences, write a conclusion that addresses the following:
The purpose of the lab, what you explored, what you learned
A statement identifying the two unknown elements found in the flame test (use your data)
A statement identifying unknown elements that make up the star (use your data)
Do your data support or fail to support your hypothesis (include examples)?
I explored the color spectrum from different elements from that I learned different elements have
fingerprints that vary to help identify using energy release as light. In part one the element that was
unknown was lithium because the color of the flame was pink, and lithium reacted that way I saw in my
test. The second element was potassium because it was blue and the second unknown element and
potassium are the same color flame.
Post-Lab Connection Questions
Answer questions in complete sentences and show work.
1. In Parts I and II of the lab, how did the electrons of each element help to produce the
different colors of light? Explain your answers using important terms from the lesson and
information provided in the laboratory. AN electron enters its excited state when charged
with energy makes it go into a higher orbit but it falls down to ground state in this process
2. energy is stored and released as the form of light, depending on the emission spectrum
though colors may differ. Stars comprised of mostly light (less massive) elements, such
as hydrogen and helium, are often younger stars. Based on your data, is the newly
discovered star a younger or older star? Explain your answer. New stars appear to be
young because of the
abundance of wavelengths that match with the lighter elements of hydro & heli . That
also still matches up with mercury so it is a bit older. So from this I think it's a middle
aged star
It seems that is a young star because of the way the colors are and how they matched up.
Unless Otherwise Noted All Content © 2022 Florida Virtual School. FlexPoint Education Cloud™ is a
trademark of Florida Virtual School.
