Flame Lab Instructions

Lighting, Adjusting and Using a Tirrell burner

Flame Identification of Chemicals

schmied/reid©2010

 

 

Part One Directions: Lighting Off Practice

1. Set up. Get the following materials to set up for this lab:

Safety goggles

Lab aprons

Tirrill burner

Safety match box

Match cup (1/2 full of water) placed by gas jets

 

2. Look at the Figures above. Check your knowledge of names and parts of flames.

3. Once your lab station has been given the OK to begin work, select who will be first, second, third, etc. to light and adjust the Lab burners. (Use Executive Decision Making!) Then help each person follow the directions below until ALL members are certified to light/adjust a lab burner.

4. Steps in adjusting the Lab burner. Practice these steps.

a. Safety Check - Check Teammates Goggles, Hair tied up, Aprons, area for hazards, debris etc.

b. Screw the Barrel all the way down until the Air Supply valve is almost closed off. (the Air Supply valve closes as the barrel is screwed down.)

c. Light a match,

d. Turn on the Gas and Light the Burner. Blow out the match and toss it in the water in the match cup. A large, yellow flame will appear on the burner.

e. Slowly unscrew the Barrel, (allowing more air in the mixture), until you have a well adjusted flame. (The blue inner flame should be about 2.5 cm.)

f. Shut off gas and let next person light and adjust the Lab burner while the rest of your team assists.

 

Part Two - Flame testing:

PUT YOUR LAB PERIOD NUMBER IN FRONT OF EACH DIRECTION WHEN COMPLETE

1. Read all directions carefully before doing any work.

2. Check the area and each other's clothes, sleeves, and hair for Safety hazards and get

a. Chemical Splash Goggles c. 1 pair Nitrile gloves e. match cup,

b. Aprons d. Tirrell burner f. matches

3. Get 4 Large paper clips and 4 wood splints and 1 roll of masking tape. Make 4 probes.

4. Send one person to get one chemical sample. Record name and crystal color

Chemical Sample Names.

(instructor will get) Concentrated Hydrochloric Acid on wood Block

Copper Sulfate (CuSO4)

Cobalt Chloride (CoCl)

Lithium Chloride (LiCl)

Sodium Chloride (NaCl)

5. Follow proper procedures to Light off Lab Burner. Adjust properly.

6. Have Operator put on gloves. Heat a probe in hottest part of flame until probe glows red.

7. Operator unstopper acid carefully. Dip wire probe in the acid. Replace acid stopper immediately!! Don't turn stopper over or put on lab bench! (Flush hands immediately if ACID gets on body or hands etc.)

8. Carefully dip probe into sample crystals and scoop some onto probe.

9. Have Timekeeper and Operator ready with Team in position to observe & record.

10. On timekeeper's mark, place tip of the wire probe into tip of inner blue cone.

11. Observe/Record/Draw color of flame at start and after 15 seconds in Data Table One.

12. Keep probe in flame another 30 sec to burn off residue

13. Repeat steps 6 through 12 to double check data. Repeat a 3rd time if needed.

14. Place used probe in match cup to cool. When all done throw used probes in garbage.

15. Switch positions. Ensure new Operator has gloves on. Get new probe.

16. Repeat steps 6 through 15 for remaining samples.

17. Turn off Tirrell burner, clean station.

18. Keep PPE on until instructor says so. Stow gear and materials. Wash Hands

19. Discuss questions with team mates and complete the lab.

Answer questions on a separate sheet of paper.

20. First Day of Flame Lab-answer all Pre Lab directions.

Second day Complete Operational Definition for Lab.

Last Day, Complete Data Table One and the rest of the lab questions CQC.

 

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