Identification Of Cations

Question 1

Explain the steps of the flame test to identify cations

Answer 1

• a small sample of the solid being tested is placed in a Petri dish
• a few drops of concentrated HCl are added to it
• a clean strip of platinum wire is dipped into the mixture
• the wire will then be heated in a Bunsen Burner flame
• the colour of the flame produced tells which cation is present

Question 2

What are the flame colours for the different cations?

Answer 2

K+ - lilac 
Na+ - yellow orange 
Ca2+ - brick red 
Ba2+ - light green 
Cu2+ - blue green 
Pb2+ - bluish