Benjamin Logan High School chemistry students Kaitlynn Simon and Kaitlyn McMurrough and their classmates recently completed an experiment to identify the contents of unknown solutions using a flame test. The lab used wooden splints soaked in a chemical solution overnight. When ignited, the solution turns the flame a color that is unique to that element. Students used those colors to determine the identity of an unknown solution. This lab is part of the unit on electrons and electron transitions in atoms. The high school course covers the fundamentals of chemistry including basic laboratory techniques, atomic and molecular theory, ionic and covalent nomenclature, stoichiometry and gases. The class, taught by Michael Kettler, is recommended for any student looking to go into a research or laboratory-based science, including the medical field and engineering. (BENJAMIN LOGAN SCHOOLS PHOTO)
Igniting science
