Concepts:

Identification of metals by colors.

Safety:

Safety glasses MUST be worn at all times by demonstrator and the audience.

Fire extinguisher.

Equipment:

• Propane torch.

• Hair pin/metal analysis wire.

• salt/metal for demo (Various carbonate salts, best would be Li, K, Na, Ba/Cu),

Preparation:

• If using a hair pin bend it flat and burn off the resin. This is spring steel and will not transfer the heat to your fingers.

Demonstration Instructions

1. Before getting started know the color of a standard wire. It is a yellow/orange color most of the time.

2. Place a small amount of salt/metal on the hair pin/metal analysis wire and place into the flame of a torch.

3. Torch flame should not be on high flame as it will blow off the salt, low to medium flame is best.

Observations:

• You will see a color appear when the flame melts the salt or contacts the metal.

• There are a handful of metal that will provide varying colors.

Learning Outcomes:

• This is one way to identify the cation in a salt.

Chemical Disposal:

• There really is not anything to dispose of on the end of the wire. The wires are normally reused until the get so dirty they have to be discarded.

Additional Information:

• Some metal colors are hard to see like potassium (Lavender), look for pink streaks.

• This test can also be done by dissolving the salts in methanol and light them on fire in a watch glass.