Product Code Database
A flame test is relatively quick test for the presence of some elements in a sample. The technique is archaic and of questionable reliability, but once was a component of qualitative inorganic analysis. The phenomenon is related to and atomic emission spectroscopy. The color of the Flame is understood through the principles of atomic electron transition and photoemission, where varying elements require distinct energy levels (Photon) for electron transitions.
The color of the flames also generally depends on temperature and oxygen fed; see flame colors. The procedure uses different Solvent and Flame to view the test flame through a Cobalt glass or didymium glass to filter the interfering light of contaminants such as sodium.
Flame tests are subject of a number of limitations. The range of elements positively detectable under standard conditions is small. Some elements emit weakly and others (Na) very strongly. Gold, silver, platinum, palladium, and a number of other elements do not produce a characteristic flame color, although some may produce sparks (as do metallic titanium and iron); salts of beryllium and gold reportedly deposit pure metal on cooling. The test is highly Subjectivity.
| Al | Aluminium | Silver-white, in very high temperatures such as an electric arc, light blue | |
| As | Arsenic | Blue | |
| B | Boron | Bright green | |
| Ba | Barium | Light apple green | |
| Be | Beryllium | White | |
| Bi | Bismuth | Azure blue | |
| Ca | Calcium | Brick/orange red; light green as seen through blue glass. | |
| Cd | Cadmium | Brick red | |
| Ce | Cerium | Yellow | |
| Co | Cobalt | Silvery white | |
| Cr | Chromium | Silvery white | |
| Cs | Caesium | Blue-violet | |
| Cu(I) | Copper(I) | Blue-green | |
| Cu(II) | Copper(II) (non-halide) | Green | |
| Cu(II) | Copper(II) (halide) | Blue-green | |
| Fe(II) | Iron(II) | Gold, when very hot such as an electric arc, bright blue, or green turning to orange-brown | |
| Fe(III) | Iron(III) | Orange-brown | |
| Ge | Germanium | Pale blue | |
| H | Hydrogen | Pale blue | |
| Hf | Hafnium | White | |
| Hg | Mercury | Red | |
| In | Indium | Indigo blue | |
| K | Potassium | Lilac (pink); invisible through cobalt blue glass (purple) | |
| Li | Lithium | Carmine red; invisible through green glass | |
| Mg | Magnesium | Colorless due to Magnesium Oxide layer, but burning Mg metal gives an intense white | |
| Mn(II) | Manganese(II) | Green-yellow | |
| Mo | Molybdenum | Green-yellow | |
| Na | Sodium | Bright yellow; Golden; invisible through cobalt blue glass. See also Sodium-vapor lamp | |
| Nb | Niobium | Green or blue | |
| Ni | Nickel | Colorless to silver-white | |
| P | Phosphorus | Turquoise | |
| Pb | Lead | Blue-white | |
| Ra | Radium | Crimson red | |
| Rb | Rubidium | Violet red | |
| S | Sulfur | Blue | |
| Sb | Antimony | Pale green | |
| Sc | Scandium | Orange | |
| Se | Selenium | Azure blue | |
| Sn | Tin | Blue-white | |
| Sr | Strontium | Crimson to scarlet red; yellowish through green glass and violet through blue cobalt glass | |
| Ta | Tantalum | Blue | |
| Te | Tellurium | Pale green | |
| Ti | Titanium | Silver-white | |
| Tl | Thallium | Pure green | |
| V | Vanadium | Yellowish green | |
| W | Tungsten | Green | |
| Y | Yttrium | Carmine, crimson, or scarlet red | |
| Zn | Zinc | Colorless to blue-green | |
| Zr | Zirconium | Mild/dull red |
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