Flame Test Lab

I. Purpose: To observe the colors produced when compounds are introduced into a flame and the electrons become excited. To estimate the wavelength of light produced, then calculate the frequency and energy of the light

II. Safety: Standard safety procedures

III. Chemical Inventory:

|Chemical Name: |Hazards: |
|Lithium Chloride |Moderately |
| |Toxic by ingestion |
|Potassium Chloride |Slightly toxic by ingestion |
|Calcium Chloride |Slightly toxic |
|Barium Chloride |HIGHLY toxic by ingestion. Use extreme caution |
|Cupric Chloride |HIGHLY toxic by ingestion. Use extreme caution |

IV. Pre-Lab Questions:

V. Procedure:

1.Dip the soaked wooden splint in one chemical at a time. Make a few crystal stick to the splint

2.Hold the end of the splint with the crystals in the burner flame and watch the first color you see. When it changes to orange, the splint is burning and we don’t care about that color

3. Use your chart from your prelab to estimate the wavelength of the color being produced

4. Obtain an unknown from your teacher, record the letter of the unknown, and do a flame test on the unknown. It will be one of the chemicals you have already tested.

VI. Data and Observations:

|Chemical |Color produced