Experiment 8: Fireworks and Flame Tests

Aim:

The aim of the experiment is to find out the different colours

produced from different metals by the moving of electrons from ground
state to excitement state by the use of heat as an energy source.

Equipment and Method:

For equipment and the method

used, please refer to page 28 of Exploring Chemistry STAWA.

Results:
Substance Being
Heated
Strontium Nitrate
Sodium Nitrate
Copper 3 Sulfate
Barium Chloride
Lithium Nitrate
Lead Nitrate
Potassium Nitrate
Cobalt Chloride
Copper Nitrate

Colour Produced
Red Orange
Orange
Green
Yellow
Red Pink
Light Pink
Peach Lilac
Orange Sparks
Green

Processing of Results:
1. The components of the salts responsible for the colours observed
are its metallic ion in the salt.
4. The reason we see the coloured light being produced is because of
the structure of the electrons. Originally, electrons are in their ground
state, once energy is added to them, they jump up energy levels. After
being exited for a short period of time, they return to ground state and
produce a photon of light.
5. One practical use we could use this type of experiment for is
determining what metal has been used in each firework at a lights
display. Although it would be fairly inaccurate we could still get an idea
roughly of what has been used.
6. a) Results would be inconsistent, for example people may be seeing
the same colour but calling it another to each other.
b) This is a random error. This is because it is not due to equipment
being used, but rather the interpretation and recording done by people.

Experiment 9: Emission Spectra

Aim:

The aim of this experiment is to decipher how different metal

atoms produce different wavelengths of light after an exited electron
returns from higher energy levels to its ground state.

Equipment and Method:

For equipment and method used,

please refer to page 30 of Exploring Chemistry STAWA

Results:
Light
source
(gas
inside
tubes)
Neon
Helium
Mercury

Processing of Results:
1. Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Red
2. The reason the suns rays (daylight) are referred to as a
continuous spectrum is because there is no gaps in colour, all
wavelengths are present (we can see all colours). Therefor it is
continuous.
3. To get an accurate view of the wavelengths, all light apart from
gas tube light must be turned off if can. This is because
background light can interfere with the spectroscope making it

seem the wavelengths came from the tube but they actually
came from background lighting.
4. The emission spectra from gasses have often a few different
colours, whereas visible light contains all colours. There are gaps
in between wavelengths in the gasses but there are no gaps in
the visible light.
5. Neon and Mercury are fairly similar, they show some blues,
yellows, greens and reds. Whereas helium is more a purple
based colour, the majority of the wavelengths are at the lower
end of the scale.
6. Although not extremely accurate, generally, similar atoms /
elements will have similar characteristics in terms of wavelengths
emitted.
20. Elements give off series of lines because they only produce
certain types of wavelengths. In figure 1.21 we are being shown a
continuous spectrum which is of white light (visible light). This
contains all types of wavelengths, therefor it has no gaps.