The Flame Test Experiment- The Chemistry of Colorful Flames

This video demonstrates the classic chemistry experiment known as the Flame Test. In this experiment, various cations from ionic compounds (or salts) are exposed to a Bunsen burner flame. The energy from the flame is absorbed by one of the electrons located in the ground state of the cation which allows it to transition to a higher energy level. This is now know as an excited state. In order to transition back to the lower energy level (the ground state), the electron must emit the exact amount of energy it absorbed. When the electron does so, a photon of light, corresponding to the energy required for the transition, is released. The energy of this photon is directly related to a frequency and this frequency is inversely proportional to a wavelength of light that falls with in the visible spectrum of electromagnetic radiation. Therefore, the photons of light being released change the color of the flame.

Furthermore, each cation experiences a unique electron transition which produces a certain color flame. For example, sodium cations turns the flame yellow/orange while copper cations allow the flame to turn green/blue. So the color of the flame can be used to identify the cation.

This chemistry is seen in a fireworks display, color changing birthday candles, or even the packets of salts that promise to produce magical flames.

Hope this video is useful in understanding the concepts behind this experiment!

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#chem #flametest #cation #chemistryexperiment

[DTMEarth]

This is really useful! I am Grade 12 A/L student from Sri Lanka. My AL exam is coming up soon. I couldn't go to school on the day of this practical test. Now It is no problem. I saw every colors PERFECT.. And u taught very very well...Finaly, thank u sooo much madam for ur help. Good Luck!

[赵诗杰-sb]

Thanks, I am a chem teacher in Guizhou, China. We don't have experimental equipment, and your video will save my class.

[edwardcunningham]

This video gets 👍👍. I'm a retired veteran and I've always enjoyed chemistry since I was a teen.
I've had a bit of time now to chase after some of my hobbies and your videos helped clear up a little bit more on the piriodic table and safe methods of testing metals as well as consideration of purity. I did a version of the color differences but used a circular burner in a camping stove. The flame "spectrograph" turned out intense 😁👍. Concentrate the same metals in different amounts was a highlight 😀.
PS, All due safety was applied during the experiments👍❤️

[ameertahir]

Very Nice Practical knowledge full work thank you

[sophiaflores]

this was super useful! I'm doing my flame test lab for chemistry tomorrow tysm!

[ghostofday]

thankyouu soo much for the beautiful demonstration miss!

[NalaniChandralatha-vinz]

Really interesting video thank you for explaining this very clearly

[sofiaaf]

Thanks for your explanation! That was awesome and I will for sure use it! Greetings from Costa Rica!

[hatooor]

very nice video thank you very much this made me pass my chemistry assesments !!

[raccoonvallie]

I want to jump up to a higher energy level 🎉

[DavidHarrisActor]

Very helpful. Thank you, Mrs. Newman.

[DavidRexGlenn]

Great video! Failed this section of chem class because I can't discern the difference between some of these colors. Still can't. Any chance of getting a video on making a pocket spectrograph?

[EbuluChristabel-ncey]

It is nice.. i need the theory behind it

[zasumi-zn]

how many wooden splint do you have in every glass vase?

[zasumi-zn]

what materials did you used in this experiment?

[DorissaRadersma]

Great video and explanation. I have a classroom that doesn't have gas and would love to buy a set-up like you have in this video. I have been looking but have not seen anything like this offered. Could you point me in the right direction?

[Neylena]

could you soak these metals onto a candle wick overnight and then make candles and have the candle flame burn these colours!?

[AmandaCrosson]

I understand they emit light when they get de-excited, but how do they get de-excited if they are still being exposed to heat.

[hey]

I WANNA ASK IS THE METAL LOOP WIRE UNREACTIVE ? ALSO CAN WE USE ETHANOL WHEN IT COMES TO ALLOWING THE SUBSTANCES TO STICK OR NO ?

[chinmayeesaikia]

Hii....What type of stick you were using here?