EXPERIMENT: FLAME TESTS

OBJECTIVE
1. To observe the characteristic colors imparted to a burner flame by several metal ions.
2. To determine the metal ion present in an unknown salt.

INTRODUCTION
The heat of a burner supplies sufficient energy to enable the electrons of many elements to
occupy higher energy levels. Such a high-energy state is known as an excited state and is not
stable. The electrons emit energy, often in the form of visible light energy, as they quickly move
back to their lower energy state. Since the electron energy levels of each element are unique, the
energies of light emitted in transitions between energy levels are also unique and can be used to
identify the element.

MATERIAL & EQUIPMENTS

 Beakers 250ml
 Bunsen burner and lighter
 Weighing paper
 Spatulas
 Beakers approx. 150ml
 Wooden splints
 Distilled (de-ionized) water.
 Metal salts: NaCl, CaCl2, KCl , LiCl and unknown metal salt

PROCEDURE
Preparing and burning splints
1. Fill your small beaker about one-half full of distilled water and place the wooden splints in it
to soak. The metal salts you will be testing are contained in separate labeled beakers with a
spatula in each.
2. Obtain small samples of each metal salt on separate labeled sheets of weighing paper.
3. Dip a wet wooden splint into one of the salt samples so that some of the salt adheres.
4. Heat the splint and metal salt in the outer edge of a well-adjusted burner flame (no yellow
should be seen in the flame). Observe and record the color imparted to the flame by the metal
salt.
DO NOT heat your splint long enough to ignite it.
5. Repeat the above procedure for each of the metal salts, using a different wet wooden splint
for each salt. Record each color.
6. Repeat the above procedure with the unknown metal salt sample provided. Observe the color
it imparts to the burner flame.

Exercise
1. Draw an energy diagram (sketch) which roughly explains how the above colours are
produced. Explain the processes involved.
2. Draw a table showing the colours emitted by the elements.
3. Explain the major difference between the colours produced by the alkali metals and calcium.
4. Of all the metals tested, which would be most easily confused simply on the basis of their
flame tests
5. Which metal was contained in the unknown metal salt?