What test is used for identifying metal ions?
Flame tests
How do you do a flame test?
1) Soak a splint (or wire loop) in the solution which is being tested
2) Hold the splint (or wire loop) into the edge of a blue flame created by a Bunsen burner
3) Observe colour the flame turns into, as this denotes which metal ion is present
4) Record results into a table
What colour does Potassium [K]+ go?
Lilac
What colour does Calcium [Ca]2+ go? (for kidney stones)
Orange
What colour does Sodium [Na]+ go?
Yellow
What colour does lithium go?
red
What colour does barium go?
Green
What colour does struvite (because its made up of magnesium) go?
silvery white
What is struvite made up of?
magnesium