Firework colours

Aim To identify elements by the coloured flames they

produce

Equipment

Bunsen burner, solutions

matches barium chloride,
Spray bottles copper chloride,
Safety glasses potassium chloride,
Lab coats sodium chloride
Wet wooden tooth picks strontium chloride;
Soaked overnight in iron chloride
distilled water

Method
1. Briefly place the stick soaked in water in a blue Bunsen flame, then remove it. Record
any colour that it gave the flame.
2. For each solution spray the salt into the flame and record the colour produced.
3. Compare your results to the theoretical colours.

Scientific Diagram
 Results
Solution Compound Colour of flame Theoretical Metallic Non-
formula observed colour ion metallic ion

Questions
1 The non-metallic element did not add colour to the flame. Describe any proof you have.

2 Identify which of the solutions you tested would be best to colour a firework:
a red

b green

c blue/green

d Yellow

Conclusion
 sample answers
Solution Compound Colour of flame Theoretical Metallic Non-
formula observed colour ion metallic ion
BaCl2 yellow Pale/ yellow Ba+2 Cl-
barium chloride, green

CuCl2 green green Cu+2 Cl-

copper chloride,

KCl purple Light purple K+ Cl-

potassium to red
chloride,

sodium chloride NaCl orange Bright yellow Na+ Cl-

SrCl2 Pink/red crimson Sr+2 Cl-

strontium chloride

Calcium chloride CaCl2 orange Orange to red Ca+2 Cl-

FeCl2 Orange spark gold Fe+2 Cl-

Iron Chloride