In a flame test, which color is produced by sodium?

In a flame test, which color is produced by sodium?

• A. Yellow
• B. Lilac
• C. Orange-red
• D. Crimson-red

Answer: (A)

When you heat a metal ion, its electrons gain energy and then drop back to lower levels, releasing light at specific wavelengths unique to that element. For sodium, the main emission occurs around 589 nanometres, in the yellow part of the spectrum. That strong, characteristic emission makes the flame look bright yellow, which is why the color produced by sodium in a flame test is yellow. It’s a fingerprint of sodium’s electron structure, which is why it stands out so clearly. Other metals give different colors—potassium glows lilac, calcium gives orange-red, and lithium or strontium can produce crimson-red—because each element has its own distinct set of energy levels and corresponding emission colors.

When you heat a metal ion, its electrons gain energy and then drop back to lower levels, releasing light at specific wavelengths unique to that element. For sodium, the main emission occurs around 589 nanometres, in the yellow part of the spectrum. That strong, characteristic emission makes the flame look bright yellow, which is why the color produced by sodium in a flame test is yellow. It’s a fingerprint of sodium’s electron structure, which is why it stands out so clearly. Other metals give different colors—potassium glows lilac, calcium gives orange-red, and lithium or strontium can produce crimson-red—because each element has its own distinct set of energy levels and corresponding emission colors.