Year 6 – Science
3rd October 23
As part of our work on metals, elements, and atoms, Year 6 have been doing flame tests on various metal compounds. The physics is quite advanced (electrons changing energy levels etc.), and does not need detailed explanation, but the flame colours are exciting, and evidence that things are going on inside the atom. We have also been heating metals in the Bunsen flame to see how they react with oxygen. The magnesium flash is the most dramatic, with safety precautions, of course. There is an excellent dramatization of the discovery of oxygen by Lavoisier and Priestley in the ‘Mystery of Matter’ videos available on You Tube.
