EXPERIMENT NO:

DETERMINATION OF ALKALI AND ALKALINE EARTH METALS IN THE GIVEN

WATER SAMPLE USING FLAME PHOTOMETER

AIM
To determine the Na, K, Ba, Ca, and Li ion concentrations in the given water sample using
Flame photometer.

PRINCIPLE
Flame photometry relies upon the fact that the compounds of the alkali and alkaline earth metals
can be thermally dissociated in a flame and that some of the atoms produced will be further
excited to a higher energy level. When these atoms return to the ground state they emit radiation
which lies mainly in the visible region of the spectrum. Each element will emit radiation at a
wavelength specific for that element. The table below gives details of the measurable atomic
flame emissions of the alkali and alkaline earth metals in terms of the emission wavelength and
the color produced.

S. No. Elements Emission Wavelength Flame Color

(nm)
1 Sodium (Na) 589 Yellow
2 Potassium (K) 766 Violet
3 Barium (Ba) 554 Lime Green
4 Calcium (Ca) 622 Orange
5 Lithium (Li) 670 Red

APPARATUS
 Microprocessor Based Flame Photometer (Model: 1382/1385, Make: ESICO), LPG
cylinder with dry oil free air with accessories.

REAGENTS
 Standard solution (0-100 ppm) for sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca) and
Lithium (Li) and (30 – 3000 ppm) for Barium (Ba).
PROCEDURE

Calibration
Calibrate a flame photometer using standard sodium (Na), potassium (K), barium (Ba),
calcium (Ca) and lithium (Li) of different concentrations.

 Switch on the compressor unit.

 Adjust the air pressure between 0.4 to 0.6 kg/cm2 on the pressure gauge using air
regulator.

 Turn on the gas regulator slowly. Press & hold the auto ignition switch on the rear side of
instrument. Adjust the flame with sharp blue cones.

 Switch on the instrument &create the Setup (that can be selected by pressing the numeric
key “2” in the main menu).

 Select setup “1” Press “1” then select mode “GENERAL” press “ENTER”.

 Select element in the set up & choose the unit of measurement (ppm) then press
“ENTER”.

 Select Standards by pressing the numeric key for particular element & enter the number
of standards that would be used for its calibration then press“ENTER”.

 Press “ENTER” key if the data entered in the current setup is to be saved & returns to the
Main Menu.

 Press numeric key “3” in the main menu for Calibration then select setup value of the last
set up chosen is automatically displayed Press “ENTER”.

 Put the capillary tube in the blank solution & press the Enter key then display shows
“Processing Please Wait”.

 After Processing put the capillary tube in the Standard solution & then press “ENTER”.

 Once all the required standards have been aspirated followed by the blank solution the
calibration is over & display shows “Calibration done”& returns to “Main Screen”.

Measurement

 Press numeric Key “1” for sample analysis.

  Select setup value of the last setup chosen is automatically shown on the display.

 Press “ENTER” key after putting the batch & Sample Number.

 Clean the Capillary tube by putting in distilled water and then put it in the sample
solution then display shows “Processing Please Wait” Followed by the test Result.

RESULT
CONCENTRATION (ppm)
SAMPLE
NO. Na K Ca Ba Li