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Course code: CHM1311G3

EXPERIMENT 1 FLAME TEST

Lecturer’s Name: Mdm. Diana Indim

Group Members Name:

1. Rika Syntha Niun (2022468882)

2. Elylia Danisa Marahim (20228170640)

3. Nur Wahyudayanti binti Mohd Dali (2022626888)

Date Of The Experiment Was Performed: 25 October 2022

Title:
Experiment 1 Flame Test

Objectives:
1. To show how flame tests can be used to identify some metal ions.
2. To identify some unknown metal ions using flame tests.

Introduction:
The arrangement of electrons around the nucleus of the atom is called electron configurations. How
the electron arranges themselves around the nucleus determines the atom’s chemical activity. This
is why electron configuration is so important to the study of chemistry. Electrons are found in
increasing energy levels around the nucleus. Adding energy to the atom may shift electrons from a
lower to a higher energy level. Heat, light or electricity can be used to add energy to an atom’s
energy. An atom with additional energy is said to be excited. The loss of this additional energy
returns the atom to its normal state. The normal state, after excitation is called the ground state.
The outer electrons are those which absorb this added energy. When the energy source is removed
then the excited electrons return to their ground state. The energy, which they had absorbed, is
emitted. This emission of absorbed energy is in the form of light energy. Analysis of this light, using a
spectroscope, shows that this light is always same the same for the same atom. The emission
spectrum from the excited atom consists of lines, which are always of the same frequency. The
emission spectrum for each element is unique to that element. Like a fingerprint it can be sued to
identify elements and their compounds. Most of our knowledge of the composition of the universe
comes from the emission spectra of stars. Simple flame test can be used to illustrate this. Each
element or its ion, when heated sufficiently, produces a characteristic spectrum. The ions used in the
following experiment give a visible spectrum. These can be used to identify the element.

Apparatus:
1. Nichrome wire with one end sealed in a glass rod
2. Test tubes
3. Test tube rack
4. Beaker

Chemicals:
Concentrated solutions (1 M) of:

1. Barium chloride (BaCl)

2. Calcium chloride (CaCl)
3. Copper (II) chloride (CuCl)
4. Sodium chloride (NaCl)
5. Potassium chloride (KCl)
6. Unknown compounds [A,B,C]
 Procedure:
1. The needed apparatus was taken and set on the table.
2. The nichrome wire was then cleaned before the experiment was conducted.
3. Each test tube was then labelled with a name of the chemical solution.
4. Each of the chemical solution are then measured approximately 1 M and poured into their
respective test tubes.
5. The clean wire was dip into Barium Chloride solution. A thin film of the solution had been
made sure to adheres to the loop.
6. The loop of the wire was then moved into the lower portion of the flame.
7. The colour seen was then recorded, and the wire was being cleaned again.
8. Step 5 until 7 was repeated for all other solution provided.
9. The results obtained are used to identify the metal ions present in the unknown samples
supplied.

Nichrome wire

Bunsen Burner

Test tube

Result:
SOLUTION ELEMENT PRESENT COLOUR OF THE FLAME
Barium Chloride Barium Yellow
Calcium Chloride Calcium Reddish Orange
Copper (II) Chloride Copper Green
Sodium Chloride Sodium Yellow
Potassium Chloride Potassium Darker Orange

SOLUTION ELEMENT PRESENT COLOUR OF THE FLAME

A Potassium Yellowish Orange
B Sodium Bright Orange
C Copper Reddish, Green

Discussion:
a) What did you expect to find, and why?
I expect to find that each of the chemical solution would give me different colours of
flame base on the its elements. The reason to this is because I want to study how
flame tests can be used to identify some metal ions.

b) How did your results compare with those expected? State your expectations
explicitly, and back up your statements with a reference.

SOLUTION ELEMENT PRESENT COLOUR OF THE COLOUR OF THE

FLAME (Expected FLAME (Actual
Result) Result)
Barium Chloride Barium Light green Yellow
Calcium Chloride Calcium Orange Reddish Orange
Copper (II) Chloride Copper Bright Green Green
Sodium Chloride Sodium Yellow Yellow
Potassium Chloride Potassium Light lilac Darker Orange

I had expected that :-

Barium Chloride’s flame colour would’ve been light green because “It is unstable at
room temperatures, so Barium must be combined with a more stable compound. In
this case, Chlorine is released in the heat of the burning of the pyrotechnic
composition, to then form Barium Chloride and produce the green colour”.

Potassium Chloride’s flame colour would’ve been light lilac “due to excitation of the
electrons to the higher energy orbitals.”

c) List any weakness in the experimental design and how these weaknesses may have
affected your results. Since your laboratory investigation was subject to limitations
of time and facilities, you did not do a “perfect” experiment. It is important for you
to understand and acknowledge this in a conclusion. Also, consider how you might
be able to get more specific and more reliable results by changing certain aspects
of the experiment.
One of the weaknesses I have encountered is that I found out that the chemical
solution Potassium Chloride did not exhibit the coloured flame I expected it to be.
Upon research through the internet, the element Potassium should have exhibit a
light lilac flame instead of a darker orange colour. The only explanation I had for this
mistake to occur was that the solution we were given might have been switched
with another similar solution.

Next, the apparatus that had been used, specifically the nichrome wire was old.
Which explains the rusted wire loop at the end. Throughout the experimenting
process, the loop got burned off and made quite a bit of a challenge to get it cleaned
for the next solution to be tested on the flame. This had caused some of the residue
of past solution or impurities affect the test results.
Besides that, the time limit set for the laboratory session didn’t gave much room to
retry and re-do the experiment for a more accurate result.

Lastly, some of the aspects that I would change to have a much reliable results are
the preparation of apparatus and chemicals and the time.

Question

1. What is the colour of the neon light?

The colour of the neon light is orange.

[Added info from google: The colour of the light depends on the gas in the tube.
Neon lights were named for neon, a noble gas which gives off a popular orange
light, but other gases and chemicals are used to produce other colours, such as
hydrogen (red), helium (yellow), carbon dioxide (white), and mercury (blue).]

2. Why does a sodium street lamp give off a different colour light than a neon
light?
A sodium street lamp give off a different colour light than a neon light is because
the substance used in the lamp absorbs and emits different wavelengths of light.

[Added info from google: The sodium lamp produces yellow-orange light.]

3. Why do some elements produce colourful flames?

The reason some elements produce colourful flames is because heated atoms
caused its electrons to absorb energy and becomes “excited” but unstable. When
an electron drops from one level to a lower energy level, the energy is released in
the form of a photon (light). The energy of the photon determines the
wavelength of the light (flame colour).

[Added info from google: Flame colours are produced from the movement of the
electrons in the metal ions present in the compounds.]

Conclusion:
In conclusion, through this experiment of flame test I can identify some metal ions
and unknown metal ions. Moreover, I had learned that flame colours are produced
from the movement of the electrons in the metal ions present in the compounds.
References:

1. https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Inorganic_Chemistry/
Supplemental_Modules_and_Websites_(Inorganic_Chemistry)/
Descriptive_Chemistry/Elements_Organized_by_Block/1_s-
Block_Elements/Group__1%3A_The_Alkali_Metals/
2Reactions_of_the_Group_1_Elements/Flame_Tests

2. https://homework.study.com/explanation/why-does-a-sodium-street-lamp-
give-off-a-different-color-light-than-a-neon-light.html

3. https://www.hudson.k12.oh.us/cms/lib/OH01914911/Centricity/Domain/363/
Flame%20Test%20Lab2017.doc

4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neon_lighting#:~:text=The%20color%20of
%20the%20light,%2C%20and%20mercury%20(blue)

5. https://socratic.org/questions/why-do-different-elements-make-different-
color-flames-when-you-burn-them

6. https://www.thoughtco.com/chemistry-of-fireworks-colors-
607341#:~:text=Barium%20chloride%20(green)%20is%20unstable,and
%20produce%20the%20green%20color.