This comparison covers Metal Ion Flame Colours: Full Reference Table within Flame Tests for GCSE Chemistry. Revise Flame Tests in Chemical Analysis for GCSE Chemistry with 22 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 6 of 13 in this topic. Use this comparison to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
⚖️ Metal Ion Flame Colours: Full Reference Table
| Metal Ion | Flame Colour | Memory Aid | Special Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Li⁺ | Crimson red | Luscious red | Very distinctive and easy to identify |
| Na⁺ | Orange-yellow | Sodium streetlights are yellow | Intense — common contaminant; can mask other colours |
| K⁺ | Lilac/purple | Potassium = Purple | Faint — use blue glass to filter sodium yellow |
| Ca²⁺ | Orange-red (brick red) | Calcium = cement/brick red | Between sodium and lithium colours |
| Cu²⁺ | Blue-green | Copper roofs go green | Distinctive; unmistakable blue-green |
| Ba²⁺ | Yellow-green (apple green) | Barium = lime Green | Distinct from copper's blue-green; more yellow than green |
Practice questions for Flame Tests
Which type of wire is used to carry out a flame test?
Explain why different metal ions produce different colours in flame tests.
Quick recall flashcards
Flame color for sodium ions (Na⁺)?
ORANGE/YELLOW - persistent yellow-orange flame, very intense and bright
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