Chemistry Flame Test Lab Report

The Flame Test Lab was an experiment designed to show how elements react when heated. This Lab attempted to prove that when electrons are excited and then calm, they emit a color specific to the element. This test showed that there is a direct coloration between the heat energy being expelled and the movement of electrons from one energy level to the next. When the atoms of a gas are excited, in this case by heating, their electrons are able to move from their ground states to higher energy levels. The electrons that move are considered “excited”. As they return to their ground state, the electron emits energy. The energy emmitied corresponds to a particular wavelength, and therefore produces a particular color of light. If a excited electron drops one energy level, Its color will be red. If it drops 2 energy levels, it will be orange yellow. 3 energy levels produces greenish blue light and 4 dropped energy levels produce violet light. The amount of energy levels electrons move up after being heated relates to the color of light it produces.