Flame Tests C3 AQA

Dip nichrome wire into concentrated HCl and place in the hottest part of a blue flame to clean.

Then dip back into the concentrated HCl and then into the powder.

Place the Wire at the edge of the blue flame and observe the colour change.

Lithium ions produce a scarlet/bright red flame

Sodium ions produce an orange (golden yellow) flame

Potassium ions produce a lilac flame

Calcium ions produce a brick red flame

Barium ions produce an apple green flame

Copper ions produce a blue green flame

Calcium - White Precipitate

Aluminium - White Precipitate (Dissolves with excess NaOH)

Magnesium - White precipitate

Copper - Blue/ Green Precipitate

Iron (II) - Sludgy Green

Iron (III) - Rusty Brown

Ammonium - Ammonia gas turns red litmus blue

Oxygen - Relights a glowing splint

Carbon Dioxide - turns limewater milky

Hydrogen - Extinguishes a lit splint with a squeeky pop

Chlorine - Bleaches litmus paper white.

Water - Anhydrous (White) copper sulfate turns blue.

Ammonia - Turns red litmus paper blue.

Add dilute Hydrochloric acid (or any dilute acid)

If carbonate ions are present carbon dioxide will be given off which turns limewater milky.

Add dilute hydrochloric acid, followed by barium chloride solution.

If Sulfate ions are present a white precipitate will form.

Add dilute nitric acid, followed by silver nitrate solution

Chlorine = White Precipitate

Bromine = Cream Precipitate

Iodide = Yellow Precipitate

Warm with sodium hydroxide, followed by aluminium powder.

If nitrate ions are present ammonia gas is given off.

Organic compounds will burn/ char when heated in air

Unsaturated organic compounds will turn orange bromine water colourless