Flame Test Experiment
Date: 20/03/13
Flame Test – Investigating Compounds
Aims
To identify the presence of a relatively small amount (ie low concentration) of a metal ion in a compound.
Method 1. Clean a platinum or nichrome wire by dipping it into concentrated hydrochloric acid. 2. Hold the platinum or nichrome wire at the hottest or blue part of a non-luminous Bunsen flame. 3. Repeat until the wire does not produce any colour in the flame (note: do not touch the wire, as salt in sweat will produce an intense sodium flame). 4. Once achieved, dip the nichrome wire in concentrated hydrochloric acid, and then dip it into a small amount of the unknown solid (or solution) to carry out the flame test. 5. Place the wire at the hottest part of a non-luminous Bunsen flame and record the observed colour of the flame.
Results
Table 1: Compound | Flame Colour | Sodium Na+ | Yellow | Potassium K+ | Lilac | Strontium Sr2+ | Red | Calcium | Orange-red | Copper | Blue-green | Unknown Compound | Lilac | Lithium | Red |
Identity of unknown compound: Potassium
Table 2: Unknown | A | B | C | D | E | F | Appearance | Black Crystalline | White Crystalline | White crystalline | White crystalline | Grey power | White powder | Melting point | High | Low | High | Medium | High | High | Solubility in water | Insoluble | Insoluble | Insoluble | Soluble | Insoluble | Soluble | Solubility in ether | | | | | | | Conductivity of solid | Conducts electricity | Non-conductor | Non-conductor | Non-conductor | Conducts electricity | Non-conductor | Conductivity of solution | Conducts electricity in solution | Non-Conductor | Non-conductor | Non-conductor | Conducts electricity in solution | Non-Conductor | Classification | Ionic bond | Non-polar molecular solid | Covalent bond | Polar molecular solid | Ionic bond | Metallic bond |
Calculations
No calculations were required in this experiment.
Discussion
The flame test was undertaken
Flame Test – Investigating Compounds
Aims
To identify the presence of a relatively small amount (ie low concentration) of a metal ion in a compound.
Method 1. Clean a platinum or nichrome wire by dipping it into concentrated hydrochloric acid. 2. Hold the platinum or nichrome wire at the hottest or blue part of a non-luminous Bunsen flame. 3. Repeat until the wire does not produce any colour in the flame (note: do not touch the wire, as salt in sweat will produce an intense sodium flame). 4. Once achieved, dip the nichrome wire in concentrated hydrochloric acid, and then dip it into a small amount of the unknown solid (or solution) to carry out the flame test. 5. Place the wire at the hottest part of a non-luminous Bunsen flame and record the observed colour of the flame.
Results
Table 1: Compound | Flame Colour | Sodium Na+ | Yellow | Potassium K+ | Lilac | Strontium Sr2+ | Red | Calcium | Orange-red | Copper | Blue-green | Unknown Compound | Lilac | Lithium | Red |
Identity of unknown compound: Potassium
Table 2: Unknown | A | B | C | D | E | F | Appearance | Black Crystalline | White Crystalline | White crystalline | White crystalline | Grey power | White powder | Melting point | High | Low | High | Medium | High | High | Solubility in water | Insoluble | Insoluble | Insoluble | Soluble | Insoluble | Soluble | Solubility in ether | | | | | | | Conductivity of solid | Conducts electricity | Non-conductor | Non-conductor | Non-conductor | Conducts electricity | Non-conductor | Conductivity of solution | Conducts electricity in solution | Non-Conductor | Non-conductor | Non-conductor | Conducts electricity in solution | Non-Conductor | Classification | Ionic bond | Non-polar molecular solid | Covalent bond | Polar molecular solid | Ionic bond | Metallic bond |
Calculations
No calculations were required in this experiment.
Discussion
The flame test was undertaken
References: www.avogadro.chem.iastate.edu/MSPC/HCL.htm This website was used in order to conduct research on concentrated HCL; it has provided me details with all the risks associated with the compound and contained particularly useful information to combat any possible events should they reside within the laboratory. www.csha.gov/SLTC/heatguidelines/ethylether/recognition.hml This government funded website was used in order to research the risks associated with diethyl ether; details of the substance and practical advice in any emergency situation was provided.