Chemistry Lab 2: Flame Tests

Adapted from Essential Lab Manual for Chemistry Timberlake

Introduction
The arrangement of electrons in an atom allows us to account for the chemistry and properties of
elements. In this lab, you will use both your knowledge of electron configurations and empirical data (lab
observations) to characterize the properties of known compounds and identify unknown compounds using their
properties.
This lab relies on the use a flame test to identify elements. This test is performed by burning a known or
unknown compound in an open flame. The colors seen while burning a compound can give a chemist clues to
both the identity of the element and its electron configuration.

Background
Electromagnetic Radiation
If you hold your hand a few inches from a brightly glowing light bulb, what do you feel? Your hand
gets warmer. The light from the bulb somehow transmits energy to your hand. The same thing happens if
you move close to the glowing embers of wood in a fireplace you receive energy that makes you feel warm.
In all of these examples, energy is being transmitted from one place to another by light. The energy that
we call light is also called electromagnetic radiation. Light (or, electromagnetic radiation) travels as waves,
just like the waves you can see in the ocean or a swimming pool. Light waves have three main properties:
wavelength, frequency, and speed. In this lab, we will focus mainly on wavelength.
The wavelength of a wave is the distance between two consecutive wave peaks. This is shown below:

When light has different wavelengths, it carries different amounts of energy. The varied wavelengths and
amounts of energy in a light wave are what cause the color of a light.
Emission of Energy by Atoms
As we will see in this lab, the colors of the flames created by burning different compounds results from
the atoms in the compound releasing energy in the form of light, or electromagnetic radiation. The heat from
the flame applied to the compound causes the atoms to absorb energy in chemistry, we say that this causes
atoms to become excited. When an atom is excited, it needs to release this extra energy and it does so by
releasing the energy in the form of light.

The color of the light that is emitted (or released) from an atom corresponds to how much energy a given
atom is releasing. This property can be used to identify elements in a compound because when burned,
elements give off a specific color. For example lithium creates a red color.

Materials

Bunsen Burner
Well plate
Nichrome wire
Cork
100-mL beaker
1 M HCl
0.1 M Solution of: CaCl2, KCl, BaCl2, SrCl2, CuCl2, NaCl, and 1 unknown solution

Safety Precautions
Throughout the duration of this laboratory experiment, safety goggles and lab aprons must be worn at all
times for protection. Bunsen burners present fire hazards. They produce an open flame and burn at a high
temperature and for the safety and convenience of everyone working in a laboratory, it is important that they
following guidelines be observed. Remove all paper, notebooks, and excess chemicals from the area around the
Bunsen burner when lit. Tie back any long hair, dangling jewelry, or loose clothing. Inspect hose for cracks,
holes, pinch points, or any defect before lighting. Adjust the flame by turning the collar to regulate air flow and
produce an appropriate flame (typically medium-blue). Do not leave open flames unattended and never leave
the laboratory while the burner is on. Shut off gas when its use is complete and allow the burner to cool before
handling. Glassware heated by burner may be hot so use appropriate safety equipment (tongs, gloves, etc.) when
removing from heat.
*** 1 M HCl is corrosive! Wash any spills on the skin with tap water for 10 minutes.

Procedure
1. Bend one end of your nichrome wire into a small loop and secure the other end in a piece of cork.
2. Pour a small amount of 1 M HCl into a 100-mL Beaker (enough so that you can submerge the loop of
the nichrome wire completely in the HCl).
3. Rinse the well plate in distilled water.
4. Place 6-8 drops of each test solution into separate wells of the well plate. Draw a picture of this on your
lab report and label which solution is in each well.
5. Adjust the flame of the Bunsen burner until it is nearly colorless (it should have a slightly bluish color).

6. Clean the nichrome wire by dipping the loop into the HCl in the beaker and then placing the loop into
the flame. If you see a strong color when you perform this task, dip it in the HCl and then the flame
again until the color disappears.
7. Dip the cleaned wire in one of the solution in the well plate. Make sure that a thin film of the solution is
on the wire loop. Move the loop of the wire into the lower portion of the flame and record the color you
observe next to the appropriate well on your report.

8. The first element in each solution that you have is the element that is responsible for the color you see.
Note: The color of the potassium flame is short-lived. It should be seen within the first few seconds of placing
the loop into the flame.
9. Perform the flame test on the unknown solution and be sure to record the code on the bottle.
10. Use your previous flame tests to determine the identity of your unknown solution. You may wish to
recheck the flame color of the known solution to make sure it matches the color of your unknown.

Data Sheet
Code letters for unknown solution: _________________________

Draw and label your well plate in the space provided below. You will also use this space to record the colors
that each compound creates.

Results
1. Fill in the following table with the electron configuration of each element and the color which the element
produced in the flame test.

Electron Configuration

Flame Color

Ca
K
Ba
Sr
Cu
Na
Unknown

2. Use the following electromagnetic spectrum to answer the question on the next page.

High-energy light waves have shorter wavelengths. Low-energy light waves have longer wavelengths.
Based on this information and the electromagnetic spectrum on the previous page, place the following
elements of the scale below from lowest energy to highest energy:

Ca, K, Ba, Sr, Cu, Na

Lowest Energy

Highest Energy

Discussion
1. How can a flame test be used to identify an unknown element?

2. Why did each element in this experiment produce a different color flame?

3. What is the correlation between the color that an element produces and the amount of energy that is being
released?

4. After looking at the scale you placed the elements on that shows which elements released the most and least
energy, can you see any trends? Does the amount of energy an element releases have anything to do with the
period or family to which it belongs?

Conclusion
1. What was the identity of your unknown compound?
2. How did you come to this conclusion?
3. Were there any sources of error in this experiment or results that you could not explain? Give a description of
these and how you could make the experiment better if performed again.
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Pre-Lab Report
Chemistry Lab 2: Flame Tests

1. What is electromagnetic radiation? Why is the wavelength of electromagnetic radiation an important

property?

2. What causes an element to produce color when it is burned during a flame test?

3. Which piece of equipment will you be using during this lab to place each solution into the Bunsen burner
flame?

4. How do you clean this piece of equipment after each test in order to ensure that the chemicals do not mix?

5. List every piece of information that it will be necessary to include on your data reporting sheet. (Hint: there
are at least 3 vital pieces of information)