The sample is identified by comparing the observed flame color against known values from a table or chart.

The sample is identified by comparing the observed flame color against known values from a table or chart.

Red

Carmine to Magenta: Lithium compounds.

Masked by barium or sodium.

Scarlet or Crimson: Strontium compounds. Masked by barium.

Red: Rubidium (unfiltered flame)

Yellow-Red: Calcium compounds. Masked by barium.

Yellow

Gold: Iron

Intense Yellow: Sodium compounds, even in trace amounts. A yellow flame is not indicative of sodium unless it persists and is not intensified by an addition of 1% NaCl to the dry compound.

White

Bright White: Magnesium

White-Green: Zinc

Green

Emerald: Copper compounds, other than halides. Thallium.

Bright Green: Boron

Blue-Green: Phosphates, when moistened with H₂SO₄ or B₂O₃.

Faint Green: Antimony and NH₄ compounds.

Yellow-Green: Barium, manganese(II), molybdenum.

Blue

Azure: Lead, selenium, bismuth, cesium, copper(I), CuCl₂ and other copper compounds moistened with hydrochloric acid, indium, lead.

Light Blue: Arsenic and some of its compounds.

Greenish Blue: CuBr₂, antimony

Purple

Violet: Potassium compounds other than borates, phosphates, and silicates. Masked by sodium or lithium.

Lilac to Purple-Red: Potassium, rubidium, and/or cesium in the presence of sodium when viewed through a blue glass.

Flame Test Colors

Symbol	Element	Color
As	Arsenic	Blue
B	Boron	Bright green
Ba	Barium	Pale/Yellowish Green
Ca	Calcium	Orange to red
Cs	Cesium	Blue
Cu(I	Copper(I)	Blue
Cu(II)	Copper(II) non-halide	Green
Cu(II)	Copper(II) halide	Blue-green
Fe	Iron	Gold
In	Indium	Blue
K	Potassium	Lilac to red
Li	Lithium	Magenta to carmine
Mg	Magnesium	Bright white
Mn(II)	Manganese(II)	Yellowish green
Mo	Molybdenum	Yellowish green
Na	Sodium	Intense yellow
P	Phosphorus	Pale bluish green
Pb	Lead	Blue
Rb	Rubidium	Red to purple-red
Sb	Antimony	Pale green
Se	Selenium	Azure blue
Sr	Strontium	Crimson
Te	Tellurium	Pale green
Tl	Thallium	Pure green
Zn	Zinc	Bluish green to whitish green