Question
What pairs of ions produce similar colours in the flame test? Use your periodic table of elements to explain the reason for this.
The pairs with similar colours were Ba2+ and Cu2+, and Sr2+ and Li+. Ba and Cu had light green-ish colours, and Sr and Li had red colours. I don't know why they produced similar colour though, the question says to use the periodic table
The pairs with similar colours were Ba2+ and Cu2+, and Sr2+ and Li+. Ba and Cu had light green-ish colours, and Sr and Li had red colours. I don't know why they produced similar colour though, the question says to use the periodic table
Answers
Bot
The reason for the similar colours is due to the fact that the elements in each pair have similar electron configurations. Ba2+ and Cu2+ both have a single electron in their outermost shell, while Sr2+ and Li+ both have two electrons in their outermost shell. This similarity in electron configuration leads to similar colours in the flame test.