OBJECTIVES

Students will acquire the ability to provide a logical explanation for the
specific colors emitted by various elements when subjected to flame tests.

Students will be capable of illustrating the process by which metal atoms

within chloride salt solutions become excited.

Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the correlation

between element identity and flame color emission, as well as the excitation
mechanism of metal atoms in chloride salt solutions.

INTRRODUCTION
When atoms absorb a significant amount of energy, their electrons undergo
transitions from lower to higher energy levels, leading to an unstable
electronic configuration. However, this heightened state is temporary, as the
excited electrons eventually revert to their stable ground state. During this
process, the excess energy acquired by the electrons is released in the form
of radiant energy, which corresponds to the energy difference between the
excited state and the more stable ground state to which they return.
Remarkably, some of these energy emissions fall within the visible portion of
the electromagnetic spectrum, making them observable to the human eye.

The phenomenon of atoms emitting visible light when returning to their

ground state forms the basis of flame tests, a crucial technique in analytical
chemistry. Flame tests involve subjecting various elements to high
temperatures, causing their electrons to become excited and subsequently
emit characteristic colors of light as they return to their ground states. These
distinctive flame colors serve as a unique fingerprint for each element,
enabling their identification through visual observation.
This fundamental principle, established by the observation of flame colors,
has been instrumental in analytical chemistry for decades. It allows chemists
to qualitatively determine the presence of specific elements in a given
sample, aiding in the identification and characterization of unknown
substances.

MATERIANLS
 Solutions of KCl, BaCl2, CaCl2, NaCl, and SrCl2
 Nichrome wire
 Concentrated HCl
 Alcohol lamp
 Small beakers

PROCEDURE
#1
 Prepare a 15 cm nichrome wire with a small loop.
 Clean the wire by dipping in HCl and heating in flame.
 Dip the loop in a metal chloride solution and observe color.
 Clean the wire again with HCl and repeat steps 2-3 for each sample.

#2
 Prepare a 15 cm nichrome wire with a small loop at one end by
embedding it in a cork.
  Clean the wire by dipping it in concentrated HCl, exposing it to the
flame until no flame color is observed.

 Apply a metal chloride sample to the loop, introduce it to the flame,

and observe the resulting flame color.

 Clean the wire again with HCl until no color appears in the flame.
Repeat steps 2 and 3 for all metal chloride samples.

REPORT AND OBSERVATION

NAME OF SOLUTIONS FIXED COLORS OF OBSERVED COLOR OF
SOLUTIONS SOLUTIONS
HCl Blue Blue
KCl Violet Violet
BaCl2 Light Green Light Green
CaCl2 Orange Orange
NaCl Yellow Yellow
SrCl Bright Red Bright Red

DISCUSSION

In this experiment, we conducted a Flame Test to explore the chemical and

physical properties of various chloride salt solutions, namely HCl, KCl, BaCl2,
CaCl2, NaCl, and SrCl2. The Flame Test is a qualitative analysis technique that
helps identify the presence of specific metal ions in a solution based on the
characteristic colors emitted when subjected to a flame.
Our observations revealed distinct flame colors for each solution, which
correlated with the identity of the metal ions present. HCl exhibited a blue
flame, KCl displayed a violet flame, BaCl2 emitted a light green flame, CaCl2
produced an orange flame, NaCl showed a yellow flame, and SrCl2 gave off a
bright red flame. Remarkably, these flame colors matched the fixed colors of
their respective chloride salts.

This experiment demonstrated the unique spectral signatures associated

with different metal ions, highlighting their varying electron configurations
and energy levels. The Flame Test serves as a valuable tool in analytical
chemistry, enabling us to identify and differentiate metal ions in a qualitative
manner based on their characteristic flame colors.

CONCLUTION
In conclusion, the Flame Test experiment proved to be an effective method
for identifying and distinguishing metal ions within chloride salt solutions.
The distinct flame colors observed for HCl, KCl, BaCl2, CaCl2, NaCl, and SrCl2
closely matched the predetermined fixed colors of their respective salts. This
alignment between observed and expected results underscores the
reliability of the Flame Test as a qualitative analytical technique.

The experiment highlighted the fundamental principle that different metal

ions possess unique electron configurations, leading to distinct energy
transitions and characteristic flame colors when exposed to heat. Such
insights are crucial in fields like chemistry and forensic science, where
identifying unknown substances plays a pivotal role. Overall, the Flame Test
offers a straightforward yet powerful tool for quick and reliable qualitative
analysis of metal ions based on their flame emission spectra.
REFERENCE
Skoog, D. A., West, D. M., Holler, F. J., & Crouch, S. R. (2013). Fundamentals
of analytical chemistry. Cengage Learning.