 A flame test is an

analytic procedure used

in chemistry to detect the
presence of certain
elements, primarily metal
ions, based on each
element's characteristic
emission spectrum.
 The color of flames in
general also depends on
temperature.
Common elements
 Some common elements and their
corresponding colors are:
Symbol Name Color Image
Silver-white, in very
Al Aluminium hot such as an
electric arc, light blue

As Arsenic Blue
B Boron Bright green

Ba Barium Pale/Apple green

Be Beryllium White
Bi Bismuth Azure
Ca Calcium Orange

Cd Cadmium Brick red

Ce Cerium Blue
Co Cobalt Silver-white
Cr Chromium Silver-white
Cs Caesium Blue-Violet
Cu(I) Copper(I) Bluish-green

Copper(II)
Cu(II) Green
(non-halide)

Copper(II)
Cu(II) Blue-green
(halide)
Ge Germanium Pale blue
 Gold, when very hot
such as an electric
Fe(II) Iron(II) arc, bright blue, or
green turning to
orange-brown

Fe(III) Iron(III) Orange-brown

Hf Hafnium White
Hg Mercury Red
In Indium Indigo/Blue

K Potassium Lilac
 crimson red; invisible
Li Lithium
through green glass

(none), but for

Mg Magnesium burning Mg
metal Intense White
Mn (II) Manganese (II) Yellowish green
Mo Molybdenum Yellowish green
 Intense yellow;
Na Sodium invisible through
cobalt blue glass

Nb Niobium Green or blue

Silver-white
Ni Nickel (sometimes reported
as colorless)
P Phosphorus White

Pb Lead Blue/white

Ra Radium Crimson red

Rb Rubidium Red-violet

Sb Antimony Pale green

Sc Scandium Orange
Se Selenium Azure blue
Sn Tin Blue-white

Crimson to Scarlet,
yellowish through
Sr Strontium 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
Carmine, Crimson, or
Y Yttrium
Scarlet
 Colorless (sometimes
Zn Zinc reported as bluish-
green)

Zr Zirconium Mild red

Color of Flame of Metal Salts
Metal salt tested Element Color of Flame
Producing
Color
Boric Acid
Calcium
chloride
Sodium chloride
Potassium
chloride
Copper (II)
sulfate

1. Why do you think are

there different colors
emitted?
2. What particles in the
heated compounds are
responsible for the
production of the
colored light?
3. How did the scientists
explain the relationship
between the colors
observed and the
structure of the atom?