Flame test Totally Explained

Everything about Flame Test totally explained

A flame test is a procedure used in chemistry to detect the presence of certain metal ions, based on each element's characteristic emission spectrum. The color of flames in general also depends on temperature; see flame color.
   The test involves introducing a sample of the element or compound to a hot, non-luminous flame, and observing the color that results. Samples are usually held on a platinum wire cleaned repeatedly with hydrochloric acid to remove traces of previous analytes. In high-school chemistry courses, wooden splints are sometimes used, mostly because solutions can be dried onto them, and they're inexpensive. Nichrome wire is also sometimes used. When using a splint, one must be careful to wave the splint through the flame rather than holding it in the flame for extended periods, to avoid setting the splint itself on fire. Sodium is a common component or contaminant in many compounds and its spectrum tends to dominate over others. The test flame is often viewed through cobalt blue glass to filter out the yellow of sodium and allow for easier viewing of other metal ions.
   The flame test is fast and easy to perform, and doesn't require any equipment not usually found in a chemistry laboratory. However, the range of detected elements is small, and the test relies on the subjective experience of the experimenter rather than any objective measurements. The test has difficulty detecting small concentrations of some elements, while too strong a result may be produced for certain others, which tends to drown out weaker signals.
   Although the test only gives qualitative information, not quantitative data about the actual proportion of elements in the sample; quantitative data can be obtained by the related techniques of flame photometry or flame emission spectroscopy.

Common metals

Some common metals and corresponding colors are:

Symbol	Name	Color
As	Arsenic	Blue
B	Boron	Bright Green
Ba	Barium	Pale/Apple Green
Ca	Calcium	orange/red
Cs	Cesium	Blue
Cu(I)	Copper(I)	Blue
Cu(II)	Copper(II) (non-halide)	Green
Cu(II)	Copper(II) (halide)	Blue-green
Fe	Iron	Gold
In	Indium	Blue
K	Potassium	Lilac
Li	Lithium	Red
Mg	Magnesium	Brilliant white
Mn(II)	Manganese(II)	Yellowish green
Mo	Molybdenum	Yellowish green
Na	Sodium	Intense yellow
P	Phosphorus	Pale bluish green
Pb	Lead	Blue
Rb	Rubidium	Red
Sb	Antimony	Pale green
Se	Selenium	Azure blue
Sr	Strontium	Crimson
Te	Tellurium	Pale green
Tl	Thallium	Pure green
Zn	Zinc	Bluish green

image:Flametest--.swn.jpg|Gas flame image:Flametest-Co-.swn.jpg|Gas flame seen through cobalt glass image:Flametest--Cu.swn.jpg|Flame test on copper sulfate image:Flametest-Co-Cu.swn.jpg|Flame test on copper sulfate seen through cobalt glass image:Flametest--Na.swn.jpg|Flame test on sodium carbonate image:Flametest-Co-Na.swn.jpg|Flame test on sodium carbonate seen through cobalt glass Image:FlammenfärbungLi.png|Flame test on a lithium salt Image:FlammenfärbungK.png|Flame test on a potassium salt Further Information

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