The goal of this experiment was to use chemistry to analyze an unknown compound and through testing its physical and chemical properties determine what unknown compound that was found in a landfill. This would benefit the Environmental Protection Agency because once they know what the substance was they could determine the best way to remove it from the landfill and if there were any potential safety hazards to beware of while handling the substance. This would prevent any accidents that may harm the people handling the compound and the people that live around the landfill. The other goal was to discuss the environment impact and cost of synthesizing the unknown compound.
One of the first things looked at was pH. The observed pH was 4. This …show more content…
Different cations when heated produced a different colored flame. The color of this flame was determined by the movement of electrons between the levels in the atom. When the fire heats the atom the elements jump levels because they gain energy, then as they fall back down in the orbitals they release energy which gives off the colored flame (Clark). Magnesium is different than many other elements, while it appears to emit no light it actually produces white light. This is because magnesium reacts with the oxygen in the air to produce magnesium oxide which is very hot and emits all the visible wavelengths at similar frequencies (USCB Science Line). A tool used was the cobalt blue glass to block the yellow light from the sodium because the sodium would over power the other colors. The blue glass blocked the yellow light because the yellow light was absorbed by the blue glass since they are complementary colors (Color Subtraction). Nichrome wire is the wire used to hold the metal ions on it so the flame can burn them and make the flame a different color. It is used because when heated nicrhome produces a very slight orange that is hard to notice compared to the other flame colors. A platinum wire would be best because that produces no color, however platinum is a lot more expensive compared to nichrome (Nichrome Wire – Flame
One of the first things looked at was pH. The observed pH was 4. This …show more content…
Different cations when heated produced a different colored flame. The color of this flame was determined by the movement of electrons between the levels in the atom. When the fire heats the atom the elements jump levels because they gain energy, then as they fall back down in the orbitals they release energy which gives off the colored flame (Clark). Magnesium is different than many other elements, while it appears to emit no light it actually produces white light. This is because magnesium reacts with the oxygen in the air to produce magnesium oxide which is very hot and emits all the visible wavelengths at similar frequencies (USCB Science Line). A tool used was the cobalt blue glass to block the yellow light from the sodium because the sodium would over power the other colors. The blue glass blocked the yellow light because the yellow light was absorbed by the blue glass since they are complementary colors (Color Subtraction). Nichrome wire is the wire used to hold the metal ions on it so the flame can burn them and make the flame a different color. It is used because when heated nicrhome produces a very slight orange that is hard to notice compared to the other flame colors. A platinum wire would be best because that produces no color, however platinum is a lot more expensive compared to nichrome (Nichrome Wire – Flame