LAB: Identifying Metals
THE BIG IDEA
In this investigation, you will observe the color of light that is emitted when a metallic salt is
heated. From your observations, you will predict the elements of unknown solutions.
BACKGROUND
Elements that are heated can produce flames with different colors. When you see the flame, it
indicates what is happening to the electron in the atom of the element. Electrons have specific
energy levels. These electrons move between energy levels resulting in either a gain or loss of
quantized energy.
If an electron is in a lower energy level and absorbs energy, it will transition to a higher energy
level. Once that electron returns to the ground state (i.e., the lower energy level), it loses energy.
This energy is emitted as a photon, which is a particle that behaves like light. The photon is what
we see on the visible light spectrum as a specific color.
Note: Part 1 of this experiment should be completed by the teacher.
PROBLEM QUESTION
Read the Background and Procedures. Write a question that the Lab is attempting to
answer.
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M AT E R I A L S
• deionized water
• 5 g of lithium chloride
• 5 g of sodium chloride
• 8 g of potassium chloride
• 11 g of calcium chloride
• 15 g of barium chloride
• nine 100 mL beakers
• wooden splints or wood craft swabs (enough for each beaker)
• Bunsen burner
• balance
• tongs
• safety goggles
• nitrile (safety) gloves
• lab coat or apron
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
• Never leave the Bunsen burner unattended. Turn it off when it is not in use.
• Use tongs when holding the objects in a flame.
• Place the hot objects on a hot pad or trivet.
• Barium chloride is highly toxic. Be careful when handling and do not ingest the salt or
solution.
• Wear all laboratory safety gear when completing this experiment. Safety goggles are required.
A lab apron is highly suggested.
• Wash your hands after handling all materials.
PROCEDURES
Part 1: Teacher Preparation
Prepare 1.0 M solutions of each metallic salt using the provided weights and deionized water.
See the appendix on how to prepare 1.0 M solutions.
1 – Label the 100 mL beakers with the name of the salt, unless otherwise noted.
2 – Add the solid metallic salts to the beakers using the exact weights as shown:
• 12.2 g of barium chloride
• 5.5 g of calcium chloride
• 5.5 g of calcium chloride (label this the UNKNOWN A)
• 2.1 g of lithium chloride
• 3.7 g of potassium chloride
• 3.7 g of potassium chloride (label this the UNKNOWN B)
• 2.9 g of sodium chloride
3 – In each beaker, add deionized water up to the 50 mL mark.
4 – Add a wooden splint to each beaker and stir the solution.
5 – Let the wooden splints sit in the solution for several hours, ideally overnight.
Part 2: Flame Test (performed by student)
1 – Light the Bunsen burner.
2 – Using the tongs, slowly pass the splint through the flame.
3 – Record the color observed for each splint.
4 – For the two unknown solutions, repeat steps 2 and 3.
5 – Compare the unknown flame colors to the known solutions and identify the elements
present.
DATA ( E V I D E N C E )
Record your observations. Create charts, graphs, diagrams, etc. to help organize your
findings.
Beaker Metal Solution Flame Color
1 1.0 M barium chloride
2 1.0 M calcium chloride
3 1.0 M lithium chloride
4 1.0 M potassium chloride
5 1.0 M sodium chloride
6 unknown A
7 unknown B
A N A LY Z E D A T A
Answer the questions. Identify any patterns, similarities, differences, trends, or other
relationships that might exist based on the data you collected.
1) What happens when metal ions from groups 1 and 2 are heated in a flame?_________________
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2) Which metal is present in unknown substance A?_________________________________________
3) Which metal is present in unknown substance B? ________________________________________
4) Why is the flame test qualitative? ______________________________________________________
5) A student decides to use the flame test to distinguish between solutions of sodium chloride
and sodium nitrate. The flame test results led to the same yellow flame. Why did this occur?
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CONCLUSION (REASONING)
State what you were trying to discover, any errors that might have affected your data, and
any further investigations that can be done. Explain how or why the data (evidence) does or
does not support your findings. Also, state any scientific concepts learned/practiced in the
investigation.
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