flame tests Flashcards
method FT
small amount of chemical put on wire mounted in a handle
end placed in blue bunsen burner flame
colour of flame used to work out metal ion present
lithium
crimson flame
sodium
yellow
potassium
lilac
calcium
orange/red
copper
green
problems with using flame tests
colour can be difficult to distinguish
- esp. if theres a low conc of metal compound
sample could contain mixture of metal ions
- mask colour of flame
flame emission spectroscopy
sample of ion placed into flame
light given out passed into spectroscope machine
converts line into line spectrum
pos of line in spectrum is used to identify ion present
- positions are specific for metal ions
advtgs of instrumental methods
rapid
senstive ( work with a tiny sample)
accurate
FES can also show conc of metal ion
- lines are more intense at a higher conc§