I need help with this chemistry flame test lab discussion question.
"List the metals used in this lab in increasing order of the energy of the light emitted."
We tested BaCl2, CaCl2, CuCl2, FE(NO3)3, KCl, LiCl, NaCl, & Sr(No3)2.
I'm not completely sure how to know the energy of the light emitted. Please help!
See your post above.
To determine the metals used in the lab in increasing order of the energy of the light emitted, you need to consider the concept of flame test and the relationship between the color of the flame and the energy of emitted light.
1. Understand the Flame Test:
During a flame test, a salt or compound containing a metal cation is heated using a Bunsen burner or a similar heat source. This causes the electrons in the metal atoms to become excited and move to higher energy levels. When the electrons return to their ground state, they release energy in the form of light. Each metal emits a characteristic color of light due to the unique energy difference between the excited and ground states of its electrons.
2. Recall the Colors of Flame Test:
Based on your lab, you need to recall the colors observed for the different metal cations. For example:
- Barium (Ba2+): Green
- Calcium (Ca2+): Orange-red
- Copper (Cu2+): Blue-green
- Iron (Fe3+): Golden-yellow
- Potassium (K+): Lilac or pale-violet
- Lithium (Li+): Crimson or red
- Sodium (Na+): Intense yellow
- Strontium (Sr2+): Red
3. Order Metals by Energy of Light Emitted:
Now, you can order the metals by the energy of light emitted based on the colors observed. Keep in mind that higher energy levels correspond to shorter wavelengths (higher frequency) of light.
The order of metals used in the lab, from lowest to highest energy of light emitted, would be as follows:
Lithium (Crimson or red) < Strontium (Red) < Barium (Green) < Calcium (Orange-red) < Iron (Golden-yellow) < Sodium (Intense yellow) < Copper (Blue-green) < Potassium (Lilac or pale-violet).
By following these steps, you can determine the order of the metals used in the lab in increasing order of the energy of the light emitted during the flame test.