Flame Test Lab Report

Discussion Questions

1. Is a flame test a good way of distinguishing (telling the difference) between different solutions? Discuss your answer.

A flame test can be a good way of distinguishing between different solutions because each element will produce a different colour. Therefore, we are able to tell the difference between these certain solutions. For instance, when copper nitrate interacted with the flame, it produced a pale green colour while the other solutions created a different colour. However, almost everybody sees and describes colours differently. A certain person could see a few solutions and describe them as ‘red’ when these solutions are actually very dissimilar in colour. This is why a flame test may produce many different

This is because nitrate was used in all the solutions which means that all the tests were consistent. Therefore, we can assume that nitrate does not give off any distinct colour when it was mixed in with the first part of the compound and sprayed at the flame. The first parts of the compound each contain a different amount of protons, therefore, the solution will produce a different coloured flame due to their different energy levels.

4. What causes the solutions to produce a coloured flame?

When the valence electrons interacted and absorbed heat from the flame, they moved up to a higher shell. The stronger the flame, the higher the electron will jump. When this excited electron falls back to the original shell (ground state), it releases the energy which it previously absorbed in the form of coloured light. This form of light of a wavelength, is the colour of the flame we observed. The energy being released is the same as the energy absorbed and the solutions produce a steady colour because one electron does up, and one goes down.

5. Why do different solutions produce different flame

In addition, this investigation indicated that a flame test can be good way of distinguishing between different solutions, depending on the person performing the experiment. The colour changed to a crimson colour when the strontium nitrate solution was sprayed at the blue Bunsen burner flame. Similarly, all the other five solutions produced a colour when they were sprayed at the flame. However, each solution created a different and distinct colour and so the colours of the different elements were observed when placed in a Bunsen burner flame. Furthermore, this investigation indicated that a flame test can be good way of distinguishing between different solutions, depending on the person performing the experiment. Different atoms produce different colours and this effect can be used to distinguish between different elements. This is why a flame test can be used to tell the difference between certain solutions. However, almost everybody sees and describes colours differently. For instance, at first my partner and I both thought potassium nitrate and sodium nitrate produced the same colour, however, we were later able to see the difference. Therefore, a flame test can be good way of distinguishing between different solutions when the person who is experimenting sees the colours as distinctly