FLAME TEST

Purpose

To observe the different colours emitted by ions in a flame test.

Apparatus and Materials

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.

Barium nitrate
Calcium nitrate
Lithium nitrate
Potassium nitrate
Sodium nitrate
Strontium nitrate
Copper(II) nitrate (copper(II) chloride)
Matches
Methyl alcohol
7 Watch glasses
Mortar & pestle

Procedure
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Powder the salts in the mortar, cleaning it out between salts.

Put salt 1 in watch glass 1, salt 2 in watch glass 2, and so on.
Pour 5 mL of methyl alcohol in each watch glass.
Using a match, carefully ignite the alcohol in watch glass 1.
After the alcohol level nears the salt, record the colour of the flame.
Repeat steps 4 and 5 for all the salts in watch glasses 2-7.

Metal Ion

Formula of Salt

Colour of Flame

Ba2+

Ba(NO3)2

Colour:

Ca2+

Ca(NO3)2

Colour:

Li+

LiNO3

Colour:

K+

KNO3

Colour:

Na+

NaNO3

Colour:

Sr2+

Sr(NO3)2

Colour:

Cu2+

Cu(NO3)2, CuCl2

Colour: