2014 Flame Test Lab
Modifications of lab on page 125 of the textbook:
You will use metal-chloride salt solutions, not solid crystals. The solutions you use will not be exactly the same as those described in the book, so you will need a modified table.
Your lab report should contain the following sections:
Title section (top right as in previous labs; not a separate cover page) Include Group # worked with
I. Purpose: One or two original sentences telling why we are taking the time to do this lab
II. Safety and Precautions: Describe safety concerns and precautions needed not to ruin equipment or
results
III. Table of Observations: Symbol, name of metal, verbal description of the color and “strength” of distinctive flame, color sketch of flame
IV. Analysis Questions: Full stand alone answers to the following questions:
1. Why do many elements have distinctive flame colors? What causes these colors to be emitted from heated atoms?
2. What do you think your unknowns were? Why?
3. Is this a good quantitative technique? What problems might you expect in mixed metals samples?
4.
V. Conclusion
Paragraph summarizing sources of error and science behind lab.
2014 Flame Test Lab
Modifications of lab on page 125 of the textbook:
You will use metal-chloride salt solutions, not solid crystals. The solutions you use will not be exactly the same as those described in the book, so you will need a modified table.
Your lab report should contain the following sections:
Title section (top right as in previous labs; not a separate cover page) Include Group # worked with
I. Purpose: One or two original sentences telling why we are taking the time to do this lab
II. Safety and Precautions: Describe safety concerns and precautions needed not to ruin equipment or
results
III. Table of Observations: Symbol, name of metal, verbal description of the color and “strength” of distinctive flame, color sketch of flame
IV. Analysis Questions: Full stand alone answers to the following questions:
5. Why do many elements have distinctive flame colors? What causes these colors to be emitted from heated atoms?
6. What do you think your unknowns were? Why?
7. Is this a good quantitative technique? What problems might you expect in mixed metals samples?
8.
V. Conclusion
Paragraph summarizing sources of error and science behind lab.