AQA · GCSE · Chemistry

    Course version: 8462 · Version from Sept 2018

    The sample is put into a flame and the light given out is passed through a…

    Full specification wording

    Flame emission spectroscopy: The sample is put into a flame and the light given out is passed through a spectroscope.

    In flame emission spectroscopy, the sample solution is introduced into a flame.

    Checked against the AQA 8462 specification (opens in a new tab) on .

    • Point 2 of 4
    • 4 key terms

    Study notes

    From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    The idea

    In flame emission spectroscopy, the sample solution is introduced into a flame. The heat energy from the flame excites the metal ions, which then emit light of characteristic wavelengths as they return to their lower energy states. The light given out is passed through a spectroscope, an instrument that separates the light into its component wavelengths. The spectroscope produces a line spectrum, which is the output of the method. This sequence is important: the sample must be put into the flame, the emitted light must be collected and passed through the spectroscope, and the resulting spectrum is then analysed. Each stage must happen for the method to work.

    What earns the marks

    • The sample, usually a solution, is put into a flame.
    • The flame provides energy that excites the metal ions in the sample.
    • The excited metal ions emit light of characteristic wavelengths.
    • The light given out is passed through a spectroscope.
    • The spectroscope separates the light into its component wavelengths to produce a line spectrum.
    • The sequence is sample into flame, light emitted, light passed through spectroscope, spectrum produced.

    Common mistakes and how to put them right

    • Saying the sample is passed through the spectroscope.

      Put it right: The sample goes into the flame and the light given out goes through the spectroscope.

    • Saying the flame absorbs light.

      Put it right: The metal ions emit light after being excited in the flame.

    • Omitting the spectroscope: the error is describing only the flame; the correction is that the light must be passed through a spectroscope to produce the line spectrum.

    Exam tips

    • Describe the steps in order: sample into flame, light emitted, light through spectroscope, line spectrum produced.
    • Use the term spectroscope, not spectrometer or telescope, when describing the instrument in this method.
    • Make clear that it is the light, not the sample, that passes through the spectroscope.

    Try the lesson

    The start of the Flame emission spectroscopy: The sample is put into a flame and the light given out is passed through a spectroscope. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    Have a go first

    In flame emission spectroscopy, what is done to the sample before the light it gives out is passed through a spectroscope?

    Listen

    In flame emission spectroscopy, the sample solution is introduced into a flame. The heat energy from the flame excites the metal ions, which then emit light of characteristic wavelengths as they return to their lower energy states. The light given out is passed through a spectroscope, an instrument that separates the light into its component wavelengths. The spectroscope produces a line spectrum, which is the output of the method. This sequence is important: the sample must be put into the flame, the emitted light must be collected and passed through the spectroscope, and the resulting spectrum is then analysed. Each stage must happen for the method to work. A strong answer earns marks for these points. The sample, usually a solution, is put into a flame. The flame provides energy that excites the metal ions in the sample. The excited metal ions emit light of characteristic wavelengths. The light given out is passed through a spectroscope. A common slip: Saying the sample is passed through the spectroscope: the error is confusing the sample with the light. Instead, the sample goes into the flame and the light given out goes through the spectroscope. Exam tip: Describe the steps in order: sample into flame, light emitted, light through spectroscope, line spectrum produced.

    See it

    A top-to-bottom flowchart with six boxes joined by arrows. The first box says the sample is put into a flame. An arrow leads to a box saying the flame provides energy that excites the metal ions. An arrow leads to a box saying the excited metal ions emit light of characteristic wavelengths. An arrow leads to a box saying the light given out is passed through a spectroscope. An arrow leads to a box saying the spectroscope separates the light into its component wavelengths. A final arrow leads to a box saying a line spectrum is produced.
    It shows the sequence of steps in flame emission spectroscopy, from putting the sample into the flame to producing a line spectrum.

    Put it in order

    Put these steps in the order they happen.

    1. 1. Excited metal ions emit light of characteristic wavelengths
    2. 2. Flame provides energy that excites the metal ions
    3. 3. Sample put into a flame
    4. 4. Line spectrum produced
    5. 5. Spectroscope separates the light into its component wavelengths
    6. 6. Light given out is passed through a spectroscope

    Key words

    Say what each word means before you turn the card.

    Excitation and emission

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Spectroscope

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Line spectra

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Experimental sequence

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    See every definition
    Excitation and emission
    The heat energy from the flame excites the metal ions, which then emit light of characteristic wavelengths as they return to their lower energy states.
    Spectroscope
    An instrument that separates the light given out into its component wavelengths.
    Line spectra
    The output of the method, produced when the spectroscope separates the light into its component wavelengths.
    Experimental sequence
    The sample must be put into the flame, the emitted light must be collected and passed through the spectroscope, and the resulting spectrum is then analysed.

    Label the diagram

    Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.

    The diagram again, with 3 boxes numbered instead of named. A top-to-bottom flowchart with six boxes joined by arrows. The first box says the sample is put into a flame. An arrow leads to a box saying the flame provides energy that excites the metal ions. An arrow leads to a box saying the excited metal ions emit light of characteristic wavelengths. An arrow leads to a box saying the light given out is passed through a spectroscope. An arrow leads to a box saying the spectroscope separates the light into its component wavelengths. A final arrow leads to a box saying a line spectrum is produced.

    • 1Box 1

    • 2Box 2

    • 3Box 3

    0 of 3 labelled

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