- Compounds of some metals produce a characteristic colour when heated in a flame
- You need to clean a nichrome or platinum wire loop by rubbing it with fine emery paper and holding it in a blue flame - when the flame remains blue, the loop is clean - dip the loop into the test sample and put it in the flame - record the colour
- Lithium ions produce a crimson flame -
- Sodium ions produce a yellow flame -
- Potassium ions produce a lilac flame -
- Calcium ions produce an orange-red flame -
- Copper ions produce a green flame -
- The test only works for samples that contain a single metal ion - if the sample contains a mixture of metal ions, the flame colours of some ions may be hidden by the colours of others
Comments
No comments have yet been made