Flame Tests of

Chloride Compounds

Julianna McCarroll

Myke Scott

September 23, 2014

Abstract

Atomic emission spectra were found for the following chlorides:

Sodium Lithium Potassium Strontium Copper (II) Iron (III) Nickel(II) Calcium

Introduction :

Atomic Spectra (emission spectra): The range of characteristic frequencies of electromagnetic radiation that are readily absorbed and emitted by an atom. (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/_/dict.aspx?rd=1&word=atomic+spectrum)

Electro Mag. Spectrum (visible light): The entire range of wavelengths or frequencies of electromagnetic radiation extending from gamma rays to the longest radio waves and including visible light.(http://i.word.com/idictionary/electromagnetic%20spectrum)

Light and the electron (how light effects it): The electron is the part of the atom that gives off color, thus reflecting light, and creating and reflecting colors from such. Light; the electron: The purpose of this lab was to find wavelength of individual colors emitted from a chloride flame test.

Method

Materials were gathered and a Bunsen burner was lit up a flame test. A clean nichrome wire was dipped into a chloride solution and placed into the flame. Using a spectroscope, wavelengths of eight chemical compounds were found producing colors present. Inside the spectroscope showed several colors, emitting a different wavelength for each color present. These colors widened in a variety and occasionally changed depending on the chemical compound the wire was emitted in. The wavelength of the colors lined up with the numbers on the spectroscope, depicting the colors wavelength. The process was then repeated eight times, with differentchemicals in each chloride solution. The results were then calculated, and recorded on a lab sheet for further study.

Results

All wavelengths are x10 to the -7th m.

Sodium Chloride: Flame Color-Orange O -6.0G -5.5V -4.5

Copper (II) Chloride: Flame Color-GreenR -6.2F -5.6

Iron (III) Chloride: Flame Color-Blue/WhiteO -5.0B -4.0

Lithium Chloride: Flame Color-RedR -5.2O -4.0V -4.0

Potassium Chloride: Flame Color-Blue/WhiteO -6.0G -5.5V -4.0

Strontium Chloride: Flame Color-OrangeR -6.2O -6.0G -5.2

Calcium Chloride: Flame Color-OrangeR -6.1O -6.0

Discussion

The reason for why each compound created a different color, even though half of the compound was exactly the same in each, is because each chemical that was added had a different number of electrons, and the electrons, being the part of the atom that reflects and gives off color, created different colors for each compound. The electron is responsible for giving off or reflecting color. According to the electromagnetic spectrum, as wavelength increases, frequency decreases. I believe that in a flame test, The Statue of Liberty would be green. I feel that this lab went very well, but there was some error involved, mainly on my part. I was very unsure as how to measure the wavelengths inside the spectroscope itself, and how to line it up with the flame correctly. My primary position, for most of the chloride tests, was holding the nichrome wire in the flame. I tried to help and be as productive as I could, but I do feel that I made error. Also, being that these results were sometimes guesstimated, different variations of light extremities were scattered abroad the room in different locations, and there were stronger levels of florescent light near the front of the room, there was obviously error in this experiment.