Chemical AnalysisDiagram

Flame Colours Summary

Part of Flame TestsGCSE Chemistry

This diagram covers Flame Colours Summary within Flame Tests for GCSE Chemistry. Revise Flame Tests in Chemical Analysis for GCSE Chemistry with 20 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This topic appears regularly enough that it should still be part of a steady revision cycle. It is section 3 of 13 in this topic. Focus on the labels, the relationships between parts, and the explanation that turns the diagram into an exam-ready answer.

Topic position

Section 3 of 13

Practice

20 questions

Recall

15 flashcards

Six Bunsen burner flames showing characteristic metal ion colours: Lithium crimson, Sodium yellow, Potassium lilac, Calcium orange-red, Copper green, Barium yellow-green

Figure 1: Characteristic flame colours for the five metal ions tested at GCSE. Learn the exact colour names.

Flame Colours Summary

  • Lithium (Li⁺): Crimson red
  • Sodium (Na⁺): Orange-yellow
  • Potassium (K⁺): Lilac/purple
  • Calcium (Ca²⁺): Orange-red (brick red)
  • Copper (Cu²⁺): Blue-green (green)

Keep building this topic

Read this section alongside the surrounding pages in Flame Tests. That gives you the full topic sequence instead of a single isolated revision point.

Practice Questions for Flame Tests

Which type of wire is used to carry out a flame test?

  • A. Nichrome wire
  • B. Copper wire
  • C. Iron wire
  • D. Platinum wire
1 markfoundation

Explain why different metal ions produce different colours in flame tests.

3 marksstandard

Quick Recall Flashcards

What is a flame test?
A test used to identify metal ions by observing the characteristic flame color they produce when heated in a Bunsen burner flame
Flame color for sodium ions (Na⁺)?
ORANGE/YELLOW - persistent yellow-orange flame, very intense and bright

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