For many years, flame test demonstrations have been utilized in chemical teaching laboratories to qualitatively detect the presence of certain elements, primarily metal ions. Although, when combustible materials are used in these experiments, more vivid displays of color have been reported. While these exercises are only qualitative, the observed flame colors may also have significant instructional value in displaying the process of light emission and atomic spectroscopy. Herein, we present the combustion of cellulose nitrate (guncotton) as an introductory laboratory discussion to atomic emission, flame emission, and atomic absorption techniques. These experiments may also be used when introducing other chemical concepts such as thermochemistry, analysis of cations, nitrogen, carbohydrate, or nitrocellulose compounds. Furthermore, these exercises may be integrated into preliminary forensic discussions of gunpowder compositions and/or gunshot residue analysis.

Combustion of guncotton to demonstrate atomic emission concepts: A unique undergraduate laboratory exercise

246th National Meeting (2013)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.