Flame Test Lab Report Essay

The purpose of the experiment, “Flame Test Lab”, is for one to determine if an element can be identified by the light they give off when inserted in the flame of a Bunsen Burner. The process of the experiment required extreme precaution, since Bunsen Burners were a key material. Students were given six elements to place within the flame of the Bunsen Burner. Lithium, calcium, potassium, copper, strontium, and sodium were all of the elements used during the process of the experiment. Before the experiment students were required to write a hypothesis. One could hypothesis that the metal elements will change color when put to the flame of a Bunsen Burner. By using a Nichrome loop dipped in distilled water, one out of 3-4 students in a group were asked to pick up a reasonable amount

Using the Spectroscope, students recorded what color light the element gave off, according to the Spectroscope. After the element was burned, the data was recorded in a table. On the left side, the element/metal was listed Next, students wrote down the color of the flame the specific element gave off. Lastly, they were asked to mark the Spectrum of the metal. Metal elements, that are ions, generate a specific type of light when burned. In result of the experiment, the color of the flame given off by the specific type of metal differed, based off of the different physical properties of the metals. Because each metal element is different, the color of the flame, and the color of the light the element gave off contradicted. For example, the metal element, Lithium, gave off a red and yellow light, and the color flame that resulted was red. Potassium has an orange flame, and gave off a red, orange,blue, and violet light. The data shows how different the Spectrum was, compared to the color of the flame. As one could tell, the color flame of Potassium has a strange mix of colors for it’s