Flame Test Lab Report

Data Analysis It was evident throughout the experiment that in the compound the metal determined the color of the flame. The color depended only on the metal component of the compound. The non-metal element that was in the compound did not mater. Compounds with Lithium (Li) were always red, compounds with Sodium (Na) were always yellow, compounds with Calcium (Ca) were always orange, Compounds with potassium (K) were always lilac, and compounds with Copper (Cu) were green. Going down the group there would be higher energy, which is shown through the visible color of the flame produced. It is shown in the graph how the energy of each wavelength in photon increases going down the group. For example, the metal Li shown in the graph has 2.84 *10-19 J energy and is located near the top of group 1, which is a lower energy level comparing to the energy of K which is 4.68*10-19 J. and is located in the middle of group 1, and had a higher energy level. Another relationship shown in the graph is that going to the right of a period metals decrease energy. This is shown with K, which has 4.68*10-19 J of energy and Ca, which has 3.43*10-19

The findings were that the unknown was potassium because both metals were lilac when KCl was tested and the unknown’s flame was lilac. Which also when the energy of photon calculations were done on them they were both were estimated the same wavelength frequency. Resulting to the same estimate energy of photon. The hypothesis was accepted, as it was possible to identify the unknown after testing out the metals. This is because after testing out all the metals and observing the different flame colors, KCL was lilac and so was the unknown metal. Which means that the unknown metal is potassium as the metal component of the compound determines the color of the flame. So K, which is potassium, is the