4.3/4.6 - Flame Tests

• Carrying out flame tests

  clean platinum/nichrome wire by dipping into concentrated HCI then holding it in hot bunsen flame until it doesn't produce a coloured flame

  moisten wire in HCI then dip it in a sample of solid being tested

  place mine in flame & observe colour
• lithium


  red
• sodium


  yellowm -orange
• potassium


  lilac
• rubidium


  red (reddish-violet)
• caesium


  blue-vioIet
• beryllium


  no colour
• magnesium


  no colour
• Calcium


  brick red
• strontium


  crimson
• barium


  green
• Copper


  blue-green
• lead


  greyish-white
• why different colours are obtained

  electrons get excited when heated so more to higher energy levels which involves a particular amount of energy

  as elections fall back down to original energy level they release energy in the form of light

  difference in energy between higher & lower energy levels determines the wavelength of light released which determines the colour