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
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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.
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