Key Stage 4
Meaning
Flame Tests are an experiment which can be used to identify the metal elements in a metal compound.
About Flame Tests
- When a metal compound is heated by a flame it causes the electrons in the metal to gain energy and move to a higher Electron Orbital. When they electrons fall back down to their lower Electron Orbital some light is given off. Each metal produces different colours of light.
| Metal Compound | Flame Colour |
| Lithium | Red |
| Sodium | Orange |
| Potassium | Lilac (Purple) |
| Calcium | Orange-red |
| Barium | Brown-green |
| Copper | Green-blue |
| Lead | Blue |
Method
- Dip the end of an Inoculation Loop into concentrated Hydrochloric Acid.
- Place the end of the Inoculation Loop into the powdered metal compound.
- Hold the end of the Inoculation Loop in a roaring blue Bunsen Burner flame.
- Observe and record the colour of the flame.