Flame Test Experiment

Alexandra Montalvo, November 3, 2014, H18

Purpose: To demonstrate and classify characteristics of a chemical reaction.

Objective: Describe the difference between a physical and chemical change. 

Data Table: 

Chemical Compounds:	Element Symbols:	Characteristics:
Barium Chloride	BaCl2	Green
Calcium Chloride	CaCl2	Orange
Lithium Chloride	LiCl	Red, chemical heat being given off, color change
Potassium Chloride	KCl	Indigo/Blue
Sodium Chloride	NaCl	Orange
Strontium Chloride	SrCl2	Red
Unknown???	CaCl2 & BaCl2 or NaCl	Green & Orange
Dry Ice	Co2	When you drop it in water, bubbles begin to form. It is a physiacal reaction and it's a white solid but turns into a colorless gas. Slows down as temperature gets colder. Denser than air. Solid vibrates when it hits table because of the atoms in it.  -109.3°F= Solid-78.5°C= Liqiud

Analysis Questions:

1.) Odor change, color change, heat being given off, and a having a new substance being made determines that a chemichal change has occurred. 

2.) A new color is emitted when takes place in the flame test.

3.) Alkaline Earth Metals and Alkali Metals are the groups on the periodic table that these elemnets exist in. 

4.) Lithium Chloride and Strontium Chloride give off the same spectrum color (red). Calcium Chloride and Sodium Chloride give off the same spectrum of color change (orange). 

5.) The catalyst speeds up the reaction, heat was the catalyst in this experiment. 

6.) One potential disadvantage in the flame test experiment was one of the colors stayed in the flames (strontium). 

Post Lab Question:

- This lab can be used in Forensic Science because, someone might use physics for comparing and investigating bullet impact, identifying unknown substances, and identifying blood and DNA. This lab can be used to determine fingerprints on an object. We leave behind fingerprints every time we touch something, and since every person has a unique set of prints which is good for idtenification. Some fingerprints you can see left on a surface by dirty  fingers. Other prints are latent  meaning you can't see them, but there are marks left by sweat, amino acids, and other organic residue from your fingers. 

                                                                                                                                                                      

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1LMYP-lJJY - Flame Test Colorful Elements

                                                                      

                                                       

                                                                   

Some pictures of the Flame Test Experiment.