flame tests

Lithium give a ___ flame

Crimson ( not red, must be crimson )

Sodium gives a ___ flame

Yellow

Potassium gives a ____ flame

Purple

Calcium gives a ___ flame

Orange - red

Copper gives a ____ flame

Green

What are the 5 metal ions that produce a distinctive colour in a flame?

Copper, potassium, lithium, sodium, calcium

Describe the method of the flame test

Place a nichrome wire into the roaring flame of the Bunsen burner to sterilise.

Then, dip the clean nichrome wire into the solution and place that into the roaring flame and observe colour changes.

Does the flame test test cations or anions?

Cations

Why can’t flame tests be used when a mixture of ions are present?

Because one colour/ result will mask the other/s