Identifying Metals: Flame Tests

Identifying Metals: Flame Tests WALT: Identify metals by the colour of their flames

What do you already know about metals? Spend 5 minutes in pairs, writing down as many facts as possible about metals. Merit for the highest number of correct and credible facts

Today we will learn how to identify metals and metal compounds by the colour of their flame How to Do the Flame Test First, you need a clean wire loop. They may be cleaned by dipping in hydrochloric or nitric acid, followed by rinsing with distilled or deionized water. Test the cleanliness of the loop by inserting it into a gas flame. If a burst of colour is produced, the loop is not sufficiently clean. The loop must be cleaned between tests. The clean loop is dipped in either a powder or solution of an ionic (metal) salt. The loop with sample is placed in the clear or blue part of the flame and the resulting colour is observed.

We have a range of metals (A, B, C, D and E) at the back We have a range of metals (A, B, C, D and E) at the back. Try and identify them. Write a short method Place the information into an appropriate table Write an evaluation of how useful you think this method of identifying metals is

Magnesium Bright white Zinc Bluish green to whitish green Lead blue

When you are finished, complete the questions about extracting metals to re-cap on last lesson before Easter KS3 Science “Materials” – pp. 44-45 In full sentences