Partner's Name: Thomas Rada
Date: 9/15/14
Flame Test Lab
Purpose
The purpose of this lab was to test the flame color of the certain chemicals given to us. By observing the fire, we would be able to tell the energy and frequency of the chemical when lit.
Procedure
After putting on all of the safety gear, I was able to collect the chemicals needed for each experiment and adding five full droppers of methanol to the chemical. My partner lit it on fire and we observed the flame while Thomas took down notes. The process was repeated again with each compound.
Pre-Lab Questions
What color of light is the lowest in energy?
The color of light that is the lowest in energy is red.
What color of light is the highest in energy?
The color of light that is the highest in energy is violet.
What color of light is the highest frequency?
The color of light that has the highest frequency is violet.
What color of light is the lowest frequency?
The color of light that has the highest frequency is red.
How are electrons “excited”?
Electrons become excited when they absorb energy from being placed in a flame.
What does it mean when the electrons are “excited”?
The electrons start to jump around, thus being described as “excited”.
In your own words, write a short explanation of how an electron absorbs energy and re-emits it as light and why different elements have different spectra.
Electrons absorb energy when atoms from a metal are placed into a flame, it then re-emits the energy as light when the energy becomes too much and it releases it. Each element has a signature color that they emit because of their different photons. So when the element is heated up, the photons release the colored light.
Observations
Control (Methanol): The flame was blue with hints purple.
Substance #1 (Borax): Pre-Flame
-White powder
-Resembles fine salt
Post-Flame
-The fire burned green and blue, then green, orange and blue. Then finally just orange as it burned out.
-The result was a white caked watch glass
Substance #2 (Copper Sulfate): Pre-Flame
-Blue liquid
Post-Flame
-The fire burned primarily blue, but with small flashes of green and rarely orange.
-The fire burned out before finishing off the liquid.
Substance #3 (Magnesium Sulfate): Pre-Flame
-Looks like Borax, but has slightly bigger chunks
Post-Flame
-Mainly blue with flashes of orange
-Leaves a crystal residue
Substance #4 (Strontium Chloride): Pre-Flame
-Resembles table salt
Post-Flame
-Stayed blueish purple with flashes of red.
-Flashes of red increased before the the flame turned completely bright red.
Substance #5 (Unknown): Pre-Flame
-Looks like Borax, very fine, but has clumps like sugar
Post-Flame
-Burned fully green, then fully orange before turning half green and half orange.
-Burned similarly to Borax
-Determined to be Borax
Conclusion
To conclude, every different chemical burned a different color according to their energy and frequency. The purple/blue had high frequency and high energy, so chemicals with the purple fire had a high frequency and energy. Chemicals that burned red or orange had a lower frequency and a lower energy.
Post-Lab Questions
Why do you think the chemicals have to be heated in the flame first before the colored light is emitted?
I think the fire breaks down the chemical and breaks it apart to then release the color inside. The energy of the chemical, which is the color, is shown in the flame and only lasts as long as the chemical is present in the flame.
Most salts contain a metal and a non-metal. What type of bonds usually form between a metal and a non-metal?
The bond that usually forms between a metal and a non-metal is an ionic bond. The metal gives more electrons to the non-metal to stabilize it and this creates an ionic bond.
What is the definition of a salt in chemistry?
In chemistry the definition of salt is an ionic compound that come from the neutralization reaction of a base and an acid.
What is fire?
Fire is the burning of substances that chemically combine with oxygen from the air. Fire typically gives off a bright light, along with heat and smoke.
What are the chemicals involved in lighting a match?
When a match is struck, the friction creates heat and mixes with oxygen to create a flame.
What is a chemical reaction?
A chemical reaction is a change in substance. It starts off as one chemical and when something is applied to it, it changes into a different chemical identity.
What natural cycles do wildfires have an impact on?
Wildfires are necessary for some seeds to pop open and spread throughout the area to reproduce itself. For example, sequoia trees need fire to reproduce and spread throughout the forest.
List at least three impacts of wildfire in San Diego.
1. Fires can spread easily through bushes and destroy lots of plant life and animal life.
2. Firefighters use a lot of water to try to put out the fire. That affects us because there is a drought in California and it drains our water source.
3. Fires produce a lot of smoke, and more smoke means less clean air to breathe. The smoke pollutes the air for the time being and makes it hard for people to breathe around a fire. Fires do suck up all of the oxygen around it to make itself bigger and brighter.
Date: 9/15/14
Flame Test Lab
Purpose
The purpose of this lab was to test the flame color of the certain chemicals given to us. By observing the fire, we would be able to tell the energy and frequency of the chemical when lit.
Procedure
After putting on all of the safety gear, I was able to collect the chemicals needed for each experiment and adding five full droppers of methanol to the chemical. My partner lit it on fire and we observed the flame while Thomas took down notes. The process was repeated again with each compound.
Pre-Lab Questions
What color of light is the lowest in energy?
The color of light that is the lowest in energy is red.
What color of light is the highest in energy?
The color of light that is the highest in energy is violet.
What color of light is the highest frequency?
The color of light that has the highest frequency is violet.
What color of light is the lowest frequency?
The color of light that has the highest frequency is red.
How are electrons “excited”?
Electrons become excited when they absorb energy from being placed in a flame.
What does it mean when the electrons are “excited”?
The electrons start to jump around, thus being described as “excited”.
In your own words, write a short explanation of how an electron absorbs energy and re-emits it as light and why different elements have different spectra.
Electrons absorb energy when atoms from a metal are placed into a flame, it then re-emits the energy as light when the energy becomes too much and it releases it. Each element has a signature color that they emit because of their different photons. So when the element is heated up, the photons release the colored light.
Observations
Control (Methanol): The flame was blue with hints purple.
Substance #1 (Borax): Pre-Flame
-White powder
-Resembles fine salt
Post-Flame
-The fire burned green and blue, then green, orange and blue. Then finally just orange as it burned out.
-The result was a white caked watch glass
Substance #2 (Copper Sulfate): Pre-Flame
-Blue liquid
Post-Flame
-The fire burned primarily blue, but with small flashes of green and rarely orange.
-The fire burned out before finishing off the liquid.
Substance #3 (Magnesium Sulfate): Pre-Flame
-Looks like Borax, but has slightly bigger chunks
Post-Flame
-Mainly blue with flashes of orange
-Leaves a crystal residue
Substance #4 (Strontium Chloride): Pre-Flame
-Resembles table salt
Post-Flame
-Stayed blueish purple with flashes of red.
-Flashes of red increased before the the flame turned completely bright red.
Substance #5 (Unknown): Pre-Flame
-Looks like Borax, very fine, but has clumps like sugar
Post-Flame
-Burned fully green, then fully orange before turning half green and half orange.
-Burned similarly to Borax
-Determined to be Borax
Conclusion
To conclude, every different chemical burned a different color according to their energy and frequency. The purple/blue had high frequency and high energy, so chemicals with the purple fire had a high frequency and energy. Chemicals that burned red or orange had a lower frequency and a lower energy.
Post-Lab Questions
Why do you think the chemicals have to be heated in the flame first before the colored light is emitted?
I think the fire breaks down the chemical and breaks it apart to then release the color inside. The energy of the chemical, which is the color, is shown in the flame and only lasts as long as the chemical is present in the flame.
Most salts contain a metal and a non-metal. What type of bonds usually form between a metal and a non-metal?
The bond that usually forms between a metal and a non-metal is an ionic bond. The metal gives more electrons to the non-metal to stabilize it and this creates an ionic bond.
What is the definition of a salt in chemistry?
In chemistry the definition of salt is an ionic compound that come from the neutralization reaction of a base and an acid.
What is fire?
Fire is the burning of substances that chemically combine with oxygen from the air. Fire typically gives off a bright light, along with heat and smoke.
What are the chemicals involved in lighting a match?
When a match is struck, the friction creates heat and mixes with oxygen to create a flame.
What is a chemical reaction?
A chemical reaction is a change in substance. It starts off as one chemical and when something is applied to it, it changes into a different chemical identity.
What natural cycles do wildfires have an impact on?
Wildfires are necessary for some seeds to pop open and spread throughout the area to reproduce itself. For example, sequoia trees need fire to reproduce and spread throughout the forest.
List at least three impacts of wildfire in San Diego.
1. Fires can spread easily through bushes and destroy lots of plant life and animal life.
2. Firefighters use a lot of water to try to put out the fire. That affects us because there is a drought in California and it drains our water source.
3. Fires produce a lot of smoke, and more smoke means less clean air to breathe. The smoke pollutes the air for the time being and makes it hard for people to breathe around a fire. Fires do suck up all of the oxygen around it to make itself bigger and brighter.