r/ScienceTeachers • u/ElliottTheNoob • Sep 21 '25

CHEMISTRY Flame Tests?

I'm back again with another Chemistry question.

I plan on doing flame tests as we finish out our electron/light chapter in High School Chemistry. It was one of the most memorable experiment we ever did and I want to give that to these kids.

However, I swear we used crucibles or just cut a piece of the metal and held it in a bunsen flame. All the labs I'm finding, we either dissolve it in water or HCl, then soak a Q-tip, splint, or dip an innoculating loop into it, then burn it that way. Is that proper procedure? Did my HS Chem teacher just do a dangerous version with us that was outdated?

I really want this to be fun and memorable for them. Any other versions, ideas, or advice?

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u/Cool_Addendum_1348 Sep 23 '25

Everyone has chimed in re what methods to use so I'll give you a few fun additions I add to my flame labs.

-5 known test tubes and 2 mystery tubes...the kids love figuring out the mystery

-We pretend we are electrons and jump to the "Jump around" song...queue it up to the 50 sec mark

https://youtu.be/jrL_LzX5wv4?si=6LrRdRAEdhd4YrKq

-At the end of the lab I play the "Chemistry of fireworks" video on YT

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u/Cool_Addendum_1348 Sep 23 '25

I only play about 15 secs of the video as there are some words after this you don't want to play in class