Flame Test Lab
Partner's Name: Dejuan Burns
Date: September 12 and 15, 2014
Date: September 12 and 15, 2014
Colored Flame Lab
Purpose:
The purpose of this lab was to observe and identify metallic ions from the different colors they create, when they evaporate and when they're burned.
Procedure:
For this lab, both partners in the group had two specific jobs. The "Handler" and the "Runner". After putting on the appropriate safety equipment [lab coats, goggles and gloves (only for the handler)] the runner would go to the teacher and get the necessary metallic ion needed for each experiment on a glass plate. After the runner came back, the handler would pour 5 full droppers of methanol onto the ion. The handler would then stir the ion into the methanol with a glass rod. After that, the handler would make sure everything flammable is off the table and proceeded to lighting a match and igniting the methanol. The handler would then dispose of the match away from the burning chemicals, while the runner would record the color of the flame and any other observations of the ion's reaction to the flame. When the methanol had completely burned off, the runner would go clean the plate, and go get the new ion. We repeated this for every test.
Pre-Lab Question:
Q: What color of light is the lowest in energy?
A: Red has the lowest of visible light energy.
Q: What color of light is the highest in energy?
A: Violet has the highest of visible light energy
Q: What color of light is the highest frequency?
A: Violet has the highest frequency because the amount of energy is proportional to the frequency.
Q: What color of light is the lowest frequency?
A: Red has the lowest frequency because the amount of energy is proportional to the frequency.
Q: How are electrons “excited”?
A: Electrons are excited because when atoms are heated, their electrons gain energy from the heat
Q: What does it mean when the electrons are “excited”?
A: When an electron is excited, it means that they are in a higher energy state.
Q: Explain how electrons absorb energy and re-emit is as light.
A:Electrons absorb energy, becoming 'excited,' and then re-emitting it by shooting a photon out to lose their energy.
Q: Why do different elements have different spectra?
A: Different elements release different photons of light, when getting energy and becoming excited. It's because different elements have different atoms, with different amounts of electrons in different places. The power of photons they emit are different, causing them to all have different spectral lines.
The purpose of this lab was to observe and identify metallic ions from the different colors they create, when they evaporate and when they're burned.
Procedure:
For this lab, both partners in the group had two specific jobs. The "Handler" and the "Runner". After putting on the appropriate safety equipment [lab coats, goggles and gloves (only for the handler)] the runner would go to the teacher and get the necessary metallic ion needed for each experiment on a glass plate. After the runner came back, the handler would pour 5 full droppers of methanol onto the ion. The handler would then stir the ion into the methanol with a glass rod. After that, the handler would make sure everything flammable is off the table and proceeded to lighting a match and igniting the methanol. The handler would then dispose of the match away from the burning chemicals, while the runner would record the color of the flame and any other observations of the ion's reaction to the flame. When the methanol had completely burned off, the runner would go clean the plate, and go get the new ion. We repeated this for every test.
Pre-Lab Question:
Q: What color of light is the lowest in energy?
A: Red has the lowest of visible light energy.
Q: What color of light is the highest in energy?
A: Violet has the highest of visible light energy
Q: What color of light is the highest frequency?
A: Violet has the highest frequency because the amount of energy is proportional to the frequency.
Q: What color of light is the lowest frequency?
A: Red has the lowest frequency because the amount of energy is proportional to the frequency.
Q: How are electrons “excited”?
A: Electrons are excited because when atoms are heated, their electrons gain energy from the heat
Q: What does it mean when the electrons are “excited”?
A: When an electron is excited, it means that they are in a higher energy state.
Q: Explain how electrons absorb energy and re-emit is as light.
A:Electrons absorb energy, becoming 'excited,' and then re-emitting it by shooting a photon out to lose their energy.
Q: Why do different elements have different spectra?
A: Different elements release different photons of light, when getting energy and becoming excited. It's because different elements have different atoms, with different amounts of electrons in different places. The power of photons they emit are different, causing them to all have different spectral lines.
Data:
Compound Name: Formula: Flame Color: Observations:
- Control (Methanol) - CH4O - Blue - Orange Flashes
- Borax - Na2B4O7 - Green - Orange Flashes
- Copper Sulfate - CuSO4 - Blue - Green Flashes
- Magnesium Sulfate - MgSO4 - Blueish-purple - Orange Flashes
- Strontium Chloride - SrCl2 - Red - Blue Flashes
- Unknown (Borax) - Na2B4O7 - Orange - Green/Blue Flashes
- Control (Methanol) - CH4O - Blue - Orange Flashes
- Borax - Na2B4O7 - Green - Orange Flashes
- Copper Sulfate - CuSO4 - Blue - Green Flashes
- Magnesium Sulfate - MgSO4 - Blueish-purple - Orange Flashes
- Strontium Chloride - SrCl2 - Red - Blue Flashes
- Unknown (Borax) - Na2B4O7 - Orange - Green/Blue Flashes
Conclusion:
Through the multiple tests, we were able to conclude that burning chemicals in class is very, fun. We also concluded that using previous data, we were able to identify the unknown substance as Borax.
Post Lab Questions:
Q: Why do you think the chemicals have to be heated in the flame first before the colored light is emitted?
A: I think the chemicals have to be heated in the flame before the colored light is emitted, because for there to be a colored light, the chemical's electrons have to become 'excited' by another source to have enough energy and to obtain the frequency needed to release these colored flames.
Q: Most salts contain a metal and a non-metal. What type of bonds usually form between a metal and a non-metal?
A: The type of chemical bonds usually formed between metals and non-metals are ionic bonds. Thus, creating the metal ions we used for the experiment.
Q: What is the definition of a salt in chemistry?
A: The definition of a salt in chemistry, is an ionic compound that can result from the neutralization reaction of an acid and a base. These compounds are electorally neutral and have many categories such as: basic salts, acid salts, neutral salts, etc.
Q: What is fire?
A: Fire is the combustion, in which substances combine chemically with oxygen from the air, and typically give out bright light, heat, and smoke.
Q: What are the chemicals involved in lighting a match?
A: The chemicals involved in lighting a match are: phosphorus and potassium chloride (in the match head). When struck against a surface of tension, the match head produces heat and causes a chemical reaction between these two chemicals.
Q: What is a chemical reaction?
A: A chemical reaction is a process that involves rearrangement of the molecular or ionic structure of a substance, as opposed to a change in physical form.
Q: What natural cycles does wildfire have an impact on?
A: Wildfires have an incredible affect on many of the natural cycles in the environment. Some of the ways they do this are: frequent wildfires eradicate native plant species and encouraging growth of fire-resistant plants and other invasive plant species, releasing high levels of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, cause soil erosion, etc.
Q: List at least three impacts of wildfire in San Diego.
A: Some impacts of wildfires in San Diego are:
- Nearly 70%, or 190,000 acres, of the San Diego watershed was burned to some extent in the Cedar fire of 2003.
- Great loss in local animal populations.
- Increased runoff into the San Diego River watershed and others. After the fire more erosion took place and cause more sediments and dirt to enter the watershed.
- Great loss of plant diversity in the San Diego area. Both indigenous and invasive.
- Alterations in the water habitat include increased water turbidity, removal of vegetation and water temperature.
Through the multiple tests, we were able to conclude that burning chemicals in class is very, fun. We also concluded that using previous data, we were able to identify the unknown substance as Borax.
Post Lab Questions:
Q: Why do you think the chemicals have to be heated in the flame first before the colored light is emitted?
A: I think the chemicals have to be heated in the flame before the colored light is emitted, because for there to be a colored light, the chemical's electrons have to become 'excited' by another source to have enough energy and to obtain the frequency needed to release these colored flames.
Q: Most salts contain a metal and a non-metal. What type of bonds usually form between a metal and a non-metal?
A: The type of chemical bonds usually formed between metals and non-metals are ionic bonds. Thus, creating the metal ions we used for the experiment.
Q: What is the definition of a salt in chemistry?
A: The definition of a salt in chemistry, is an ionic compound that can result from the neutralization reaction of an acid and a base. These compounds are electorally neutral and have many categories such as: basic salts, acid salts, neutral salts, etc.
Q: What is fire?
A: Fire is the combustion, in which substances combine chemically with oxygen from the air, and typically give out bright light, heat, and smoke.
Q: What are the chemicals involved in lighting a match?
A: The chemicals involved in lighting a match are: phosphorus and potassium chloride (in the match head). When struck against a surface of tension, the match head produces heat and causes a chemical reaction between these two chemicals.
Q: What is a chemical reaction?
A: A chemical reaction is a process that involves rearrangement of the molecular or ionic structure of a substance, as opposed to a change in physical form.
Q: What natural cycles does wildfire have an impact on?
A: Wildfires have an incredible affect on many of the natural cycles in the environment. Some of the ways they do this are: frequent wildfires eradicate native plant species and encouraging growth of fire-resistant plants and other invasive plant species, releasing high levels of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, cause soil erosion, etc.
Q: List at least three impacts of wildfire in San Diego.
A: Some impacts of wildfires in San Diego are:
- Nearly 70%, or 190,000 acres, of the San Diego watershed was burned to some extent in the Cedar fire of 2003.
- Great loss in local animal populations.
- Increased runoff into the San Diego River watershed and others. After the fire more erosion took place and cause more sediments and dirt to enter the watershed.
- Great loss of plant diversity in the San Diego area. Both indigenous and invasive.
- Alterations in the water habitat include increased water turbidity, removal of vegetation and water temperature.
Photos of the reactions of the specific metallic ion and methonal combinations