flame test!

Metals change the colour of the flame when heated in the flame. Different metals give different colours, so the flame test would be able to identify the elements in a sample. The different colours are due to the different wavelengths of the photons of different elements. This will then produce different frequencies, which according to the principle of the atomic emission spectrum is why the colours vary in different metals.


We tested using 6 different metals, and 1 additional one being a metal we have tested during our Chemistry module last year. 


Barium: Pale green
Calcium: Orange-red
Copper: Blue-green
Lead: Blue
Potassium: Pink
Sodium: Bright orange/yellow
Magnesium: Bright white


Here are the photographs of the flame tests for the different substances. As my camera was not able to capture the colours very well, I found some photos on the Internet instead. 

Barium
(http://www.visualphotos.com/image/1x8465577/barium_flame_test)

Calcium
(http://www.sciencephoto.com/media/4989/enlarge)

Copper
(http://chemistry.about.com/od/firecombustionchemistry
/ig/Flame-Tests/Flame-Test---Copper-Sulfate.htm)

Lead
(http://chemistry.about.com/od/firecombustionchemistry/
ig/Flame-Tests/Lead-Flame-Test.htm)

Potassium
(http://www.chemistry.wustl.edu/~courses/genchem/
Labs/IonExchange/Flame.htm)

Sodium
(http://chemistry.about.com/od/firecombustionchemistry/ig/
Flame-Tests/Flame-Test---Sodium-Carbonate.htm)

Magnesium
(http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks3bitesize/science/chemical_material_
behaviour/compounds_mixtures/revise5.shtml)

Another more organised diagram of the different colours created by the different metals.