ʚ fire tests ɞ

• the flame test is used to identify the presence of certain metal cations
• What is the only non-metal cation you'll come across?

  Ammonium (NH+4)
• In preparation for the flame test, what are used to clean the wire loop?

  Hydrochloric acid + a Bunsen burner.
• When performing the flame test, in which part of the flame should you place the wire loop with the metal sample + why?

  The blue flame as it is the hottest.
• What colour flame does a lithium ion burn with?

  Red (crimson).
• What colour flame does a sodium ion burn with?

  Yellow
• What colour flame does a potassium ion burn with?

  Lilac
• What colour flame does a calcium ion burn with?

  orange/red.
• What colour flame does a copper ion burn with?

  Green
• What is a limitation of the flame test?

  A limitation of the flame test is that if you have 2 or more different metals in your sample, then the colours of the flames will mix together, and you probably won't be able to tell which metals you have.