Appendix C: Flame Tests for Elements
BLUE
Azure Lead, selenium, CuCl 2 (and other copper compounds when
moistened with HCI); CuBr 2 appears azure blue, then is followed by
green.
Light Blue Arsenic and some of its compounds; selenium.
Blue-green Phosphates moistened with sulfuric acid; B 2 O 3.
GREEN
Emerald Green Copper compounds other than halides (when not moistened with
HCI), thallium compounds.
Greenish-blue CuBr 2 ; arsenic; lead; antimony.
Pure green Thallium and tellurium compounds.
Yellow-green Barium; possibly molybdenum; borates with (H 2 SO 4 ).
Faint green Antimony and ammonium compounds.
Whitish green Zinc.
RED
Carmine Lithium compounds (masked by barium or sodium), are
invisible when viewed through green glass, appear violet
through cobalt glass.
Scarlet Calcium compounds (masked by barium), appear greenish
when viewed through cobalt glass and green through green
glass.
Crimson Strontium compounds (masked by barium), appear violet
through cobalt glass, yellowish through green glass.
VIOLET Potassium compounds other than silicates, phosphates and borates; rubid-
ium and cesium are similar. Color is masked by lithium and/or sodium,
appears purple-red through cobalt glass and bluish-green glass.
YELLOW Sodium, even the smallest amount, invisible when viewed through cobalt
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