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When an atom is in the flame, an electron in the outer shell of that atom receives energy from the flame and jumps up to a higher shell position. This electron then falls back to is original position and in doing so emits a photon of light of a specific energy. You see this light as a color. Atoms from different elements have different numbers of electrons in their electron shells so the photons emitted as these electrons jump back are all of different energy and therefore emit light of a different color. The color of the flame in the flame test therefore helps to identify the element in the flame producing the colored light.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Wiki User
∙ 7y agoThe heat from the flame causes electrons in atoms to rise to higher energy orbitals (or escape the atom completely), as the electrons fall back to their original "ground state" orbitals they emit photons having the energy corresponding to the energy difference between these orbitals. These energy differences are unique to each specific element. Photons having different energies are seen as different colors.
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What inaccuracies may be involved in using flame tests for identification purpose?
Some flames produce very similar colors. Like one flame can look yellow and another can look slightly lighter. but they look almost identical ^^
Why do different elements make different colors in a flame test?
copper and sodium. they have a mixture of flame colors
What is a flame test?
Answer By exposing materials to a hot flame (from a Bunsen burner typically), the color of the flame can be used to identify the material. Certain elements give off a characteristic color when heated to high temperature. See the Related Links for "Wikipedia: flame test" to the bottom for the answer. A method of obtaining an emission spectrum from a sample
Why should you turn a Bunsen burner to a yellow flame if you need to leave it?
The yellow flame is more visible - making it easier for others to see. It's also a colder flame than the blue conical one.
What are Two kinds of flame?
the yellow/safety flame - thats the one that burns less the blue flame - burns THE ROARING FLAME - that one burns a lot and you can tell the difference from the blue flame because it makes a roaring sound
Why are flame tests valuable?
To see the different types of colors a light gives off.
When doing flame tests Li Cl and K Cl both contain Cl so what makes the flame tests different colors?
The flame tests are different because they contain different metal cations. Since the metals were the variable that you changed, you know that can be the only reason why the flames would be different colors.
Explain why you would or would not expect significant ionization in the flame?
If the test agent have free ions the ionization of the flame will be significant. When the energy reaches a point when it take more energy the flame ionization will not be significant.
How do I know the colors I see are the same colors you see?
I do not have a scientific answer to this, but i am presuming one way to approach this question is to also understand how colorblind tests would actually work for the majority of the population. If they didn't, that would mean that the colors don't interact with each other, such as the specific colors they use for those tests. All in all, since colorblind tests do work, I do believe that majority of us do see the world same way, in the same colors.
How are flame tests used in forensic science?
Flame tests are used to help identify substances used in murders
What inaccuracies may be involved in using flame tests for identification purpose?
Some flames produce very similar colors. Like one flame can look yellow and another can look slightly lighter. but they look almost identical ^^
Why do fires burn certain colors and not others?
This depends on many things,2 of them are the tempreature of which your particular fire is burning by. Another thing which effects the colour of a flame is when you burn certain chemicals in a fire to perform flame tests. For example when a flame test is performed on Strontium(Sr2+)a scarlet red flame can be observed.
Which two elements would you use to add red and green colors to a fire?
See the Related Links for "Wikipedia: Flame test colors" to the bottom for the answer.
Which pair of ion produce similar colors in the flame tests?
To know which pairs of ions produce similar colors in the flame test it is important to know what the pairs of ions are. Without knowing this a person will not be able to know which would produce similar colors in the test.
Flame tests in daily life?
Fireworks
What are the techniques used to analyze inorganic chemicals?
Precipitation tests Flame tests Tests on gases Other ions
What is the flame color of Lead II Nitrate?
Lead compounds tend to be blue in flame tests
