Hazards:
Barium salts are highly toxic.
Chemicals and Solutions:
Flame test cation solutions (methanolic)
Materials:
Matches
dishes with covers
Procedure:
Place the cation solutions into dishes and ignite them with a match. To put them out, simply cover the dish.
Barium gives a green flame
Strontium gives a red flame
Lithium gives a red flame
Calcium gives a red orange flame
Sodium gives an orange flame
Potassium give a violet flame
Hint:
Discussion:
The metal ions are raised to an excited state by the high temperature of the flame and then return to the ground state emitting light of characteristic frequencies.
To schedule a demonstration, please send an email to the demonstration lab.
Contact:
Eric Camp
Lecture Demonstration Technician
Bagley Hall 171
(206) 543-1606