Name:__________________________
Period: _____________
Date:_____________
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Chemistry Flame Test Lab
You may work in group of 2-4.
Flame Test Introduction
The flame test is used to visually determine the identity of an unknown metal or metalloid ion based on
the characteristic color the salt turns the flame of a Bunsen burner. The heat of the flame excites the
electrons of the metals ions, causing them to emit visible light. Every element has a signature emission
spectrum that can be used to differentiate between one element and another.
Part I: Videos
First we are going to watch a few videos to try to determine what we are going to look for in our test.
Video #1: Alcohol flame test
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This is the material that the demonstrations use as their solvent to ensure a longer flame. You
will see this color in every test done so this is the control.
Anything you see outside of this color in the others will be due to the material used
Observations:
Video’s 2 –7 chemical videos:
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For each of the videos below, make observations on the color that is produced by the chemical
when it is burned. We will use these as our guide later to try to identify the unknown chemicals
in our lab.
Video 2: Sodium Chloride
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Observations:
Video 3: Lithium Chloride
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Observations:
Video 4: Potassium Chloride
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Observations:
Video 5: Copper (II) sulfate
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Observations:
Video 6: Strontium Chloride
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Observations:
Video 7: Barium Chloride
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Observations:
Video 8: This will be a recap which has all of the elements in it – use it to adjust any notes
Part II: Unknown materials
For the second part we are going to try to identify 6 unknown materials based on doing a flame test on the
materials. We are going to conduct the flame test separately. I will call up each group one at a time. You
will try to identify each of the 6 unknown elements based off of the videos you saw.
We will be conducting these tests slightly differently. I have been soaking wooden sticks in them for a while
to saturate the sticks. You will come up and pick one stick out of the material and we will use it to conduct
our experiment.
Procedure:
*Note: You will only get one shot at this so make sure you are prepared and know what you are looking for
when you ask me to give you the sticks
1) Take stick from the material A
2) Make sure safety glasses are on and you are wearing protective heat glove
3) Slowly wave the stick through the edge of the flame (DO NOT CATCH THE STICK ON FIRE)
4) Watch for the color of the flame and try to identify it with the colors from the video
5) Fill in the data Table below:
Sample
A
B
C
D
E
F
Observations (Stick)
Matching compound
When complete answer the following questions in complete sentences:
1)
How confident are you in your answers? Was it easy to see the flames or difficult?
2) Which of the flames were the easiest to determine? Which ones were the hardest to distinguish
from each other?
3) What errors could have occurred during this lab? Can you come up with a way to reduce the
chance for errors?
4) In your opinion is a flame test a good way to identify unknown materials? Why or Why not?
5) Try to find in your chemistry book the science behind why the flame test works, why different
elements give off different colors when heated. Be a thorough as possible.