Farmer 2B

Flame Test
Emission Spectroscopy
Andrew Farmer 2B
Partner: Sarah McDermott

Abstract
The flame test is a form of emission spectroscopy which is used to identify unknown
metallic ions based off the color of their flame once heat energy is applied. Based off of the
electron energy level model proposed by Niels Bohr, this test is designed because every
substance has different energy levels. A different amount of energy will be released by the
substances electrons, resulting in different colors. I predicted that this test would not be accurate
because the flame color would be affected by the anion of the ionic compounds. However, I was
wrong. Moderate safety precautions were followed, as Bunsen burners were in use and could
cause fatal burns. Unknown solutions were also being used, which called for more safety
precautions.

Farmer 2B
Introduction
The flame test is a form of emission spectroscopy used to identify ionic compounds based
off the color of its flame. By applying heat from the flame, electrons in the metallic ions gain
energy and move to a different energy level in the electron cloud. Once the heat is no longer
applied, the electron will return to its original energy level. When this happens, energy in the
form of light is emitted, and its frequency can be measured.
Emission spectra is the range of wavelengths (in this case, always within the range of
visible light) emitted by an atom that is stimulated by heat or another form of energy. Niels Bohr
proposed that electrons can only exist in certain energy levels at any given time. However, the
electrons can move between energy levels upon absorbing or emitting energy. In the flame test,
electrons in metallic ions absorb energy from the flame and then emit the energy in the form of
different colors of light The flame test was once done differently in schools; instead of using
wooden splints, as we did in our experiment, a platinum or nichrome wire was used. The solution
or in some cases, a powder, was applied to the wire and then put in the flame. The color of the
flame was recorded. Then the wire was placed in hydrochloric acid and rinsed in distilled water
to get rid of any remaining solution. Although this usually produces accurate results, it is much
more dangerous than using wooden splints The flame test has many applications. Fireworks
are made with certain metals in order to produce specific colors once heated. Halogen lights
(commonly known as neon lights) are made with the knowledge that certain halogens will
produce different colors when stimulated with energy. Miners use the flame test to check if
valuable substances are present within rocks.
Prior to this experiment, I hypothesized that the flame test would not be effective to
identify metals because I believed that the anion would affect the color of the flame.

Farmer 2B

Materials and Methods

The materials we used in this experiment were Bunsen burners, wooden splints, beakers
for waste, strikers, 12 aqueous solutions containing metals, 2 unknown solutions (labelled A-I),
plastic pipets, watch glasses, and cobalt blue glass.
Prior to the class experiment, I helped make the 12 solutions with 0.5 mol of each
substance in its corresponding beaker along with water. First, each pair of students turned a
Bunsen burner on by making the gas lever in line with the tube. We lit the Bunsen burner using a
striker. At each station we transferred some of the solution from the beaker to the watch glass
using a plastic pipet. We then dipped an unused wooden splint in the solution on the watch glass.
We put the wet side of the splint at the tip of the inner cone of the flame- the hottest part of the
flame. Next, we observed and recorded the color of the flame. (When observing sodium chloride,
we looked through a blue cobalt glass, as instructed.) After completing this, we disposed of the
wooden splint in the beaker filled with just water. We used new splints for each test and did not
reuse any splints; this would produce inaccurate results.
This experiment involves very hot Bunsen burners, flames, and solutions, so certain
safety precautions were deemed necessary. We did not wear any loose clothing or jewelry.
Anyone with long hair, including my partner, Sarah, tied their hair back. Throughout the entire
experiment, we wore safety goggles and gloves. We were sure to avoid touching the burner tube,
which was extremely hot and would cause severe burns.

Farmer 2B
Results
Chemical Name
Strontium chloride

Cation Symbol
Sr2+

Colors of Flame
Strong red

Strontium nitrate
Barium chloride
Copper (II) chloride
Copper (II) nitrate
Nickel (II) chloride

Sr2+
Ba2+
Cu2+
Cu2+
Ni2+

Strong red
Greenish-yellow
Green-blue/teal
Green-blue/teal
colorless

Lithium chloride
Sodium chloride
Cobalt chloride
Calcium chloride
Potassium chloride
Manganese (II) chloride
Unknown A
Unknown I

Li+
Na+
Co2+
Co2+
K+
Mn2+
-

Pinkish-red
Neon pink (w/ cobalt glass)
yellow w/ white sparks
Burnt red-orange
Light purple/lavender
Green w/ sparks
Burnt red-orange
Pinkish red

Unknown A is calcium chloride. Both substances, when put it the flame, emitted the same
color flame: burnt red with a hint of orange. No other substance produced this color flame.
Unknown I is Lithium chloride. Both substances emitted a hot pink flame. Although sodium
chloride produced a pink flame, we had to use the blue cobalt glass to observe this. We did not
have to use the cobalt glass to observe the pink flame of the lithium chloride or Unknown I. No
other substance produced a hot pink flame.
Discussion
The flame test experiment provided strong evidence supporting Bohrs proposition that
electrons change energy levels. When the electrons in each metal absorbed energy in the form of
the heat from the flame, they moved to a higher energy level. The electrons then emitted this
energy, moving to a lower energy level. This energy was emitted in the form of visible light!
Each element has different energy levels, which is why the electrons emitted various amounts of
energy. The strontium chloride electrons emitted a low amount of energy in the form of red light.

Farmer 2B
The potassium chloride emitted a high amount of energy in the form of purple light. Niels Bohrs
proposition that electrons have very specific energy levels was also supported. Each metal had a
very specific flame color that did not change at all. The electrons of each metal emitted the same
amount of energy the whole time, with the electrons always returning to their original energy
levels.
Sodium chloride emitted a yellow flame, the same color the wooden splint emitted.
However, when looking through the cobalt blue glass, the flame looked neon pink. The cobalt
blue glass absorbed the yellow light that was emitted by the sodium, leaving the neon pink
visible. Cobalt blue glass is sometimes used throughout the entire flame test to eliminate any
inaccurate yellow light caused by sodium. Sodium is a common contaminant.
I would like to design an experiment to solve why the flame of the nickel chloride was
colorless. Perhaps not enough energy was applied to the nickel in order to excite the electrons
enough for them to move to a higher energy level. Perhaps the energy released by the nickel
electrons was so little or so great that it was outside of the visible spectrum. If the energy was
very low, infrared radiation could have been emitted. If the energy emitted was very high, it
could have been in the form of ultraviolet rays.
Conclusion
Before conducting the flame test, I believed that the anion of each solution would affect
the color of the flame. However, after the flame test, I realize I am wrong. I can be sure that the
anion does not affect the color of the flame because strontium chloride and strontium nitrate
contain different anions but produced the exact same flame color. The color of the flame is only
affected by the cation. Each metallic ion produced a different color flame due to their different

Farmer 2B
atomic energy levels. Therefore, I can conclude that the flame test is an effective way to identify
metals.

References
Helmenstine, Ph.D., Anne Marie. About Education. Bohr Model of the Atom. No date applicable.
http://chemistry.about.com/od/atomicstructure/a/bohr-model.htm

Science Department Faculty of BMHS. Emission Spectroscopy Flame Test Handout. Aug.
2015. Print.

Science Olympiad. SO Inc. The Flame Test. 2004. http://www.soinc.org

Supporting Information
We did not take any pictures during the flame test.