The Flame Test
Problem: To repeat the flame test that was done
by Neils Bohr.
- Study fig 11 pg 232 and re-read what Neils
Bohr did
Materials: Bunsen burner, flask, wooden splints,
lighter and chemical solutions
Procedure:
1. At a lab bench, set up a bunsen burner and
light it.
2. Place the soaked end of the wooden splint in
the hottest part of the flame for 5 seconds.
3. Observe the colour which appears.
4. Go to the next station.
Observations
Compound Name
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Flame Colour
Element Present
Observations
Compound Name
Flame Colour
Element Present
1
Copper sulphate
green
Copper
2
Potassium iodide
violet
Potassium
3
Copper (II) chloride
green
Copper
4
Calcium Chloride
Red-orange
Calcium
5
Strontium Chloride
Crimson red
Strontium
6
Lithium Chloride
Red
Lithium
7
Potassium Chloride
violet
Potassium
8
Barium Chloride
Yellow-green
Barium
9
Sodium Chloride
Orange-yellow
Sodium
10
Potassium Carbonate
violet
Potassium
Discussion
1. How could you determine if the element copper
was in a certain compound?
2. Based on what you have learned, what colour do you
think these solutions would produce:
A: Lithium bromide
B: Barium Sulfate
3. Burning elements to produce different colours has
one commercial use. Can you think of where you may
have seen this in action?
Conclusion
Based on the reading on pg 232, write a brief
conclusion about what is happening to the
electrons as the element is heated and what we
learned in this lab.