CHEM 15 - Flame Test Identification of Elements* and Interpreting their Spectral

Lines Using a Spectroscope

Introduction:

The conventional atomic structure model describes the atom as a nucleus (protons & neutrons) surrounded by
shells of electrons. You learned in lecture class that electrons are organized at specific allowed locations and
distances from the nucleus, with a corresponding specific energy level, n. Most of the atoms of an element at
room temperature are in their "ground state" which means that electrons are arranged in a configuration having
the lowest possible total energy. As the elements absorb energy, the electrons move to higher energy orbits,
then release that energy in the form of light as the electrons revert to low energy states.

Modem medicine utilizes a number of non-invasive techniques to treat patients. Various instruments use
properties of radiation (e.g. infrared, MRI, CT-scans, x-ray, fluorescence, etc.) to diagnose and monitor
diseases, and in some cases to destroy unwanted tissues such as cancer. We also manipulate radiation in our
everyday lives (think sunscreen, dark glasses, microwave ovens, cell phones, TV brightness). You already own
two sensitive radiation detectors, namely your eyes!

In this experiment you will visually observe the flame colors of 8 common elements using the flame test and
the emission line spectrum of elements in a gas discharge tube using a spectroscope. The electrons of the
element atoms initially in their ground state (lowest energy configuration) will be excited to a higher energy
level in the atom after absorbing energy first, from heat of a Bunsen burner flame and second from electricity
of a gas discharge tube. When the electrons in the atom "relax" or fall back to their ground state location, they
must give up the excess energy they possessed in the excited state. This excess energy is given off in the form
of the visible light you will observe. The wavelength (color) of the light observed is a direct measure of the
difference in energy an electron possessed in the excited state relative to the ground state.

You will also observe that different elements have different line spectra (emission lines) due to the different
number and arrangement of the electrons in atoms of different elements. The fact that different elements have
individual characteristic flame colors and emission line spectra can often be used to identify or verify the
presence of a particular element. A pathologist, for example, might use the flame test concept to screen for
possible hazardous materials.

Part I. In the first part of this experiment, we will use a flame (heat) to excite the electrons in 8 "Known"
samples so they will emit characteristic colors. These colors directly correlate to a characteristic wavelength, A
frequency, u and Energy, E. You will identify each color (remember ROYGBIV=Red,Orange,Yellow, Green,
Indigo, & Violet) within the visible spectrum and approximate the wavelength using a reference chart (see final
pages of this handout for colors of the visible spectrum). Each one of the known elements will be recorded in
your experiment along with its characteristic emission color & wavelength.

Procedures, Part I:
Materials:
\Goggles, nichrome or platinum wire and holder, nine small test tubes, test tube rack, Bunsen burner.

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 Safety:
The materials you will work with in today's experiment are concentrated enough to cause serious skin /eye
burns. You must be wearing safety goggles at ALL times and be careful not to spill any of the solutions on
'your skin or clothing. If an accident occurs and you spill or get solution on you skin or in your eyes,
immediately rinse with plenty of water and notify your lab instructor. Be careful lighting and working around
the open flame of the Bunsen burner.

1. You will work with your lab partner in this experiment. Each team will examine emission colors of 8
known materials. Partners should trade duties so that each person has experience both generating the
flame colors and recording/comparing data.
2. Place approximately 5 mL of 6M Hydrochloric Acid plus samples of the 8 known solutions into 9 small
test tubes labeled with contents; masking tape is convenient for this purpose.:
3. Obtain a glass rod with nichrome or platinum wire holder, having a cork or other heat insulating handle.
4. Carefully light the Bunsen burner and adjust the flame for a blue (hottest) center in the center.
5. Dip the metal end of your test wire in the 6M HCl solution and heat the wire in the hottest part of the flame.
Repeat twice. This will clean off your wire so that any metal contaminates present on the wire will be
removed. You will need to repeat this step before examining each different solution.
6. You are now ready to perform the flame tests on the known solutions. Dip the wire into your first solution
and place it in the hottest part of the Bunsen burner flame. Note the color of the flame and record your
observations on your data sheet. You should perform the test a few times to verify consistency. Make
sure you and your partner agree on the color observed.
7. Clean your wire with the 6M HCl as described in step 5. Repeat the observation tests on the remaining 7
known solutions as described in step 6. Record your observations on the data sheet. Make sure to
clean the wire between solutions to minimize contamination.
8. Select three Unknowns from the 8 available (they are the same materials as knowns, but are coded Ul, U2,
U3, etc.) Perform the flame tests on each unknown according to step 6 and record your observations
Don't forget to record the identification (eg. coded Ul, U2, U3, etc.) of each unknown.
9. Make sure that you tum off the gas connected to your Bunsen burner when you are finished.
10. Using the data from your flame tests (eg. color and estimated wavelength) and chart of line emission
spectra, identify 3 "Unknown" elements by comparing results from your group of 8 known elements.
You then convert the wavelengths of your three unknown samples to energy values using the formula
E=hu
c = UA and since, u=c/ A
E= he/A. E= energy of light (photon)
h= Planck's constant= 6.6261*I0-34J·s
A.= wavelength in meters
c = speed of light 2.9979*10 8 mis
A calculation example is provided on the data worksheet.

Finally, you will plot the graphs of:wave length observed versus the calculated energy and conclude an
important relationship between energy and wavelength, and be able to answer the question why we use
sunscreen

Notes: For a flame test demonstration see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EXr_L7Ojqg

·� Part I of this lab experiment was partly adopted from

nttp://wwvv.csus.edu/indiv/m/mackj/chemlA/lab/pdfs/Exp 10.pdf

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Part II. In this part of the experiment you will have an opportunity to us a spectroscope with calibrated
nanometer readings ... no need to estimate or guess about the wavelength or color.

Materials:
Two spectroscopes having pushbutton switches for illuminating the internal nanometer scale. Two gas
discharge tubes containing pure H2, and He gases will be located such that the light properly enters the
spectroscope. Additional gas tubes are available if you are interested in seeing spectra of other elements
Do not change the gas discharge tubes yourself unless instructed otherwise. Your INSTRUCTOR WILL
CHANGE THE HOT GAS DISCHARGE TUBES.

Safety:
The spectroscope contains NO chemicals, and goggles must be removed to see through the eyepiece. The gas
tubes are FRAGILE and get HOT in use, so do not touch them to avoid a possible skin bum.

Procedure, Part II:

A station containing the spectroscopes and gas discharge tubes will be available for your use. Each gas
discharge tube will contain a pure gas of H2, He, Ne, Hg or Ba. You will need to observe and record the color
(of the excited electrons transitioning to a lower energy state) as well as three line emission wavelengths of
H2 and one other element (eg. either He, Ne, Hg or Ba). Look through the eyepiece to see the color, then push
the button on the cable to illuminate the scale, which will show wavelength in nanometers..Analyze your
results and compare your line emission spectra with those in the literature or internet. Include the literature or
URL citation.

1. Using a spectroscope with H2 gas discharge tube in the transformer, draw the scale and spectral
emission lines using colored pencils (or label the color).

2. Repeat this for one other gas discharge tube containing He, Ne, Hg or Ba

3. Calculate the energy, E, for three of the most prominent spectral line wavelengths in the hydrogen
emission spectrum. Show your calculations and compare your results to an on-line reference.

4. Repeat the energy calculation for three spectral lines of one other element observe.

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Some flame test references
1. Flame test Wiki
2. Representative visible-light emission line spectra of various chemical elements
3. NIST Atomics Spectra Database Line Form (comprehensive)

Wavelength Ranges for Colors

.. Color Wheel11

750 nm
red

435 nm 595 nm

blue-green green
540 nm

-+-------------- hcreasing ener9y -------------

------------ Increasing wavelength -------------

0.0001 nm 0_01 nm 10 nm 1000 nm 0.01 cm 1 cm lm 100 m

I I I I I I

Gammo rays X-rays Ulrrn­ Infrared Radio waves

violet

Rodar TV FM AM

------ ---------- Visible light

t . - . :, ..:�·:�/::
,..,,�,- T - •., ���-r

I I
400nm 500 nm 600nm

47
 CHEM 15- Flame Test Identification of Elements
Name: --------------------- Date: ------

Pre Lab Questions.

1. What is the relationship between wavelength and frequency?.

2. What is meant by "n" in describing electron configurations?

3. Which has more energy: red, green, or blue light? Why?

4. What causes light to be emitted?

5. Our eyesight is limited to the "Visible" spectrum, what do we call the two spectral
regions immediately above and below our visible range?

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 Part 1: DATA SHEET & CALCULATIONS FOR FLA E TEST
Student Name LabDay& Time
Material used Known Element Observed Flame Color Wavelen th nm Energy (Joulest
0.5MSrCI, Sr, Strontium

0.5M LiCI Li, Lithium

0.5MCaCI; Ca, Calcium

0.5MNaCI Na, Sodium

0.5M N3803 B, Boron

0.5MBad; Ba, Barium

O.SMCuCI; Cu, Copper

0.5WKCI K, Potassium

3 Unknowns # Sus ected element Observed Flame Color Wavelen th nm Energy (Joulesl

(a)
(b)
(c)

Plotthe datainthe boxbelow,pertheexample calculation, or useExcelon a separatesheet

Wavelengthoflight A= 650 Nanometers (convert to meters for calculation)
Planck's Constant h= 6.6261E-34 Joule*sec universal constantof nature
Speedoflight c= 2.9979E+Q8 meters/sec universal constant of nature
formula we need Photon Energy E = hc/A joules Joules=(joule-sec)*(meter/sec)/(meters)
numerator is two constants h*c 1.986E-25 numeratorsamefor all calculations, (Joule-metere)
calculation reduces to dividingthis value bywavelengthin meters to getenergy in joules
convert nanometers to meters 6.50E-07 meters 650nm= 650E.9m = 6.50E-7m
PhotonEnergy e=hc/A= 3.0561E-19 joules 10-19=10A-19=10E-19

Joules per photon of light

5.1 E 19
.

4. 9E 19 .

4.7E 19 .

4.5E -19
2
4. 3E 19 .

4.1 E 19 .

3.9E 19 .

>.3.7E 19 .

0>
S 3.5E 19 .

ui 3.3E 19 .

3. 1 E. 19
2.9E. 19
2.7E. 19
2.5E. 19
375 400 425 450 475 500 525 550 575 600 625 650 675 700 725 750
nanometers wavelength

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 Part 2: Emission from a gas discharge lamp.
Highvoltage is usedto push electrons into a higherorbit "excitedstate", such thatwhenthey fall backto a
lowerenergy "ground state", a characteristicemission frequency (or wavelength) is emitted.
n this part ofthe experimentwe will observe actual spectral lines from a single element source, and
measure their wavelength with a spectroscope. Use of a single element simplifies the spectra. In light from
the sun, a multitude of elements are involved, so the light appears as a continuous spectrum from red to blue.
You will choose two elements to observe, measure wavelength of 3 prominent lines spectral lines, and
calculatethe energies. USETHE PUSHBUTTONto illuminatethe measurementgrid acrossthe bottom
Sketch the vertical line you saw, into the boxes below for two Elements of your choice.

Name of Element #1

Example

1
0>

I
400 425 450 475 500 525 550 575 600 625 650 675 700
Wavelength in Nanometers ->
Measure the lines and calculate three emission energies for Element #1
Color of line Line wavelength, nm Emission Line Energy
Emission Line #1

£mission Line #2

Emission Line #3

Name of Element #2

Example

®
®
£
c?
®
3

ca
400 425 450 475 500 525 550 575 600 675
Wavelength in Nanometers ->
Measure the lines and calculate three emission energies for Element #2
Color of line Line wavelength, nm Emission Line Energy
Emission Line #1

Emission Line #2

mission Line #3

Go on-line to validate your data. Try a Google search "hydrogen spectra" (or other elements)
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 CHEM 15 - Flame Test Identification of Elements
Name: --- - ---------------- Date: ------

Post Lab Questions. You may want to use additional pages.

1. Name the 3 elements contained in your 3 unknowns via their flame colors.

2. List 2 safety precautions that you took in today's experiment.

3. Why did you see lines in the spectroscope and not continuous colors?

4. Ifyou suspected strontium presence in a patient, what color flame would it make?

5. What is the mathematical relationship between color (wavelength) and energy?

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