Flame test research paper

How to Do a Flame Test & Interpret Results. The flame test is used to visually determine the identity of an unknown metal or metalloid ion based on the characteristic color the salt turns the flame of a Bunsen burner. The heat of the flame excites the electrons of the metals ions, causing them to emit visible light.

This experiment showed that every metal emits a different color and this proves the hypothesis to be correct, that every metal emits a different color when put into a flame. This experiment also shows that a metal can be identified by looking at the color of the flame and matching it to previous data results.

The Flame Test lab has been perfected by Robert Bunsen, who created the Bunsen burner. This lab has worked better with metal ions compared to the actual metal. It has been found that metallic ions exhibit characteristic colors when vaporized in the burner flame.

Here are a couple of household materials that contain metals that are easily seen and identifiable in a Flame Test. Experiment Materials. 2 Popsicle sticks. Boric acid. Cream of tartar. Small glass dish for each powder tested. Flame source. Small cup of water. Container of water to douse the flame.