Exp 7 Flame

Amber Crisp
3/5/14
3/5/14
Flame Test
Purpose
In this experiment I will learn how to perform and observe the flame tests of some alkali and alkaline earth metals and be able to identify and unknown chemical by the color of the flame
Procedure
I placed about 0.5 mL of 8 different chemicals into 8 different places in the 24-well plate. I then lit the handy wick to keep a flame burning. I soaked a cotton swab in the first chemical and moved the cotton swab in and out of the flame rapidly to see the flame color change. I then repeated this process for the rest of the chemicals.
Data Table 1: Flame Test
Chemical
Well-Plate #
Flame Color
NaNO3
A-1
Yellow
Sr(NO3)2
A-2
Red
KNO3
A-3
Purple
Cu(NO3)2
A-4
Green
Ba(NO3)2
A-5
Light Green
LiNO3
A-6
Red
Ca(NO3)2
B-1
Orange
Sr(NO3)2 or Li(NO3)2
B-2
Red

Questions
A. All chemical used in this test are binary compounds. What portion of the periodic table is responsible for the color observed?

Group 1 and 2

B. In cooking over an open flame, a yellow flame is often observed when some food is spilled into the flame? What is most likely responsible for the yellow flame color?

Table Salt

C. What problems might be associated with using flame color for identification purposes?

Different chemicals can produce similar flame colors

D. Explain how the observed colors are produced:
The breaking of the ionic bonds
Conclusion
This experiment taught me how to properly perform and observe chemicals using the flame test.