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Flame Tests.
Some metal ions
can be identified by the colour of their flame
during a flame test.
Metals or metal
salts having a coloured
flame are used in fireworks.
A flame test
uses a piece of nichrome wire.
You dip the end of the wire in concentrated
hydrochloric acid
and then hold it in a hot bunsen flame.
If the wire is not
contaminated, the colour of the flame
will not change.
If the flame changes
colour, dip the wire
in
concentrated hydrochloric acid again and return it
to the bunsen flame.
Repeat this procedure until the wire
shows no change of colour
in the flame.
Now dip the end of the wire
in concentrated hydrochloric acid
and put the wire into the solid
which you are using for the flame test.
A small amount of the metal
chloride will form on the wire.
Hold the wire in the flame
and see what colour is produced.
The table below shows which colours are produced by
some metal ions.
| Metal Ion | Flame Colour |
| Lithium Li+ | Red |
| Sodium Na+ | Yellow/Orange |
| Potassium K+ | Lilac |
| Calcium Ca2+ | Brick Red |
| Barium Ba2+ | Light Green |
| Copper Cu2+ | Blue/Green |
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Copyright © 2007 Dr. Colin France. All Rights Reserved.