FLAME LAB
Partners: Sophie Uribe
Date: 9/12/14
Purpose: The purpose of the Flame Lab was to learn about energy being released as photons and quantum jumps
Procedure: In order to do this lab, we broke into teams of two. One person was the note taker, while the other was handling the methanol. After putting different substances on small pieces of glass, covering them in methanol, and setting them on fire, we took notes on the color of the flame, and any other details that stood out.
Pre Lab Questions:
What color of light is the lowest in energy?
- The color of light lowest in energy is red.
What color of light is the highest in energy?
-The color of light highest in energy is violet
What color of light is the highest frequency?
- The energy is directly proportional to the frequency. Therefore, the light with the highest frequency would be violet.
What color of light is the lowest frequency?
- The color of the light with the lowest frequency would be red because of the relationship between energy and frequency.
How are electrons “excited”?
- Electrons can become excited by by a few different ways. One way is when the electron absorbs a photon so that it can move it between quantum shells. Another is when atoms are heated their electrons can gain energy from the heat
What does it mean when the electrons are “excited”?
- When it is said that electrons are “excited” it means that the electrons are in a higher energy shell.
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.
- When placing atoms into a flame, the electrons absorb energy and go to an excited energy state called a quantum jump. They re-emit this energy by releasing a photon of light. The amount of energy changes and determines the color of the light that the atoms re-emit as a photon. Different elements release a different spectra because the arrangement of electrons in an atom. The arrangement of the electrons characterize the quantum jump, which determine the color of the photon.
Date: 9/12/14
Purpose: The purpose of the Flame Lab was to learn about energy being released as photons and quantum jumps
Procedure: In order to do this lab, we broke into teams of two. One person was the note taker, while the other was handling the methanol. After putting different substances on small pieces of glass, covering them in methanol, and setting them on fire, we took notes on the color of the flame, and any other details that stood out.
Pre Lab Questions:
What color of light is the lowest in energy?
- The color of light lowest in energy is red.
What color of light is the highest in energy?
-The color of light highest in energy is violet
What color of light is the highest frequency?
- The energy is directly proportional to the frequency. Therefore, the light with the highest frequency would be violet.
What color of light is the lowest frequency?
- The color of the light with the lowest frequency would be red because of the relationship between energy and frequency.
How are electrons “excited”?
- Electrons can become excited by by a few different ways. One way is when the electron absorbs a photon so that it can move it between quantum shells. Another is when atoms are heated their electrons can gain energy from the heat
What does it mean when the electrons are “excited”?
- When it is said that electrons are “excited” it means that the electrons are in a higher energy shell.
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.
- When placing atoms into a flame, the electrons absorb energy and go to an excited energy state called a quantum jump. They re-emit this energy by releasing a photon of light. The amount of energy changes and determines the color of the light that the atoms re-emit as a photon. Different elements release a different spectra because the arrangement of electrons in an atom. The arrangement of the electrons characterize the quantum jump, which determine the color of the photon.
Data Tables:
This table shows the different compounds, the formula for the compounds, the flame color, and other observations. (These notes were taken by Sophie because I was unable to write notes with contaminated gloves from the methanol)
Conclusion: Through this experiment, I learned about flame tests and how to conduct them. I also learned about energy photons and there affect on the color of a compound in a flame test
Discussion of Theory:
Discussion of Theory:
Post Lab Questions:
Why do you think the chemicals have to be heated in the flame first before the colored light is emitted?
The chemicals must be heated in the flame before the colored light is emitted because to get an atom to emit light, it must become "excited". The heat from the flame causes the atom to become excited and emit 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 type of bond that forms between a metal and non metal is an ionic bond. The metals are eager to give away their valence electrons to the non-metals.
What is the definition of a salt in chemistry?
An ionic compound that is the result of the neutralization reaction of an acid and a base. These salts are made up of cations and anions.
What is fire?
Fire is the result of substances chemically mixing with oxygen and giving out heat and light. This is the result of a chemical reaction called combustion.
What are the chemicals involved in lighting a match?
There are a few chemicals involved in lighting a match. The first is a chemical called phosphorus. When rubbed against the powdered glass, it may generate enough heat to transform the phosphorus into white phosphorus. Sulfur and Potassium then work together in order to keep the flame going.
What is a chemical reaction?
The change of a substance into a different substance with a different chemical identity. These reactions usually come with a physical change to the substance like heat and light emitting from the substance.
What natural cycles does wildfire have an impact on?
One natural cycle that wildfires have an impact on is the Nitrogen Cycle. The reason why wildfires impact the Nitrogen Cycle is because fire stimulates mineralization of soil to Ammonium. Fire also converts much of the nitrogen in burnt vegetation to nitrogen gas.
List at least three impacts of wildfire in San Diego.
- Impact on people: People are impacted by wildfires in San Diego because of the destruction of structures and shelters that may cause some to completely start over again.
- Impact on plant life: Wildfires a natural part of the environment and supports several plants and nature as a whole. For example, fires help spread the seeds of older trees in order to let new ones grow
- Impact on water: The water supply is running low in San Diego, as well as California as a whole. Every single bit of water being wasted adds up to a big problem for us. Fires are stopped by firefighters and those firefighters use water as there main weapon. Our already low water level can not take much more stress that some of the wildfires give us.
Why do you think the chemicals have to be heated in the flame first before the colored light is emitted?
The chemicals must be heated in the flame before the colored light is emitted because to get an atom to emit light, it must become "excited". The heat from the flame causes the atom to become excited and emit 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 type of bond that forms between a metal and non metal is an ionic bond. The metals are eager to give away their valence electrons to the non-metals.
What is the definition of a salt in chemistry?
An ionic compound that is the result of the neutralization reaction of an acid and a base. These salts are made up of cations and anions.
What is fire?
Fire is the result of substances chemically mixing with oxygen and giving out heat and light. This is the result of a chemical reaction called combustion.
What are the chemicals involved in lighting a match?
There are a few chemicals involved in lighting a match. The first is a chemical called phosphorus. When rubbed against the powdered glass, it may generate enough heat to transform the phosphorus into white phosphorus. Sulfur and Potassium then work together in order to keep the flame going.
What is a chemical reaction?
The change of a substance into a different substance with a different chemical identity. These reactions usually come with a physical change to the substance like heat and light emitting from the substance.
What natural cycles does wildfire have an impact on?
One natural cycle that wildfires have an impact on is the Nitrogen Cycle. The reason why wildfires impact the Nitrogen Cycle is because fire stimulates mineralization of soil to Ammonium. Fire also converts much of the nitrogen in burnt vegetation to nitrogen gas.
List at least three impacts of wildfire in San Diego.
- Impact on people: People are impacted by wildfires in San Diego because of the destruction of structures and shelters that may cause some to completely start over again.
- Impact on plant life: Wildfires a natural part of the environment and supports several plants and nature as a whole. For example, fires help spread the seeds of older trees in order to let new ones grow
- Impact on water: The water supply is running low in San Diego, as well as California as a whole. Every single bit of water being wasted adds up to a big problem for us. Fires are stopped by firefighters and those firefighters use water as there main weapon. Our already low water level can not take much more stress that some of the wildfires give us.