In this experiment, the metal cations in the solutions were initially in the ground state. when placed in the flame, the metals then (absorbed, emitted) energy as (electricity, heat, em radiation). when this occurred, electrons made transitions from (low, high) energy levels to (low, high) energy levels. the metals were then in the (ground, excited) state. the electrons in these metals then made transitions from (low, high) energy levels to (low, high) energy levels, resulting in the (absorption, emission) of energy as (electricity, heat, em radiation).