Flame Test Colors

Li+ Na+ K+ Ca2+ Sr2+ Ba2+ Cu2+ Deep red (crimson) Yellow Violet Orange-red Red Green Blue-green

Aqueous Ion Colors

Cu1+ Cu2+ Fe Fe2+ Fe3+ Co2+ Cr3+ Ni2+ Mn2+ Pb3+ V2+ V3+ MnO4CrO42Cr2O72Cu(NH3)42+ FeSCN2+ CoCl42Ti(H2O)63+ Green Blue Yellow to red-orange (depending on anion and charge of Fe); in rare cases, can form complex ion with a deep blue color yellow-green (depending on the anion) orange-red (depending on the anion) Pink Violet (Cr(NO3)3 to Green (CrCl3) Green Pink blue-green (Pb2+ and Pb4+ are colorless) violet blue-green Purple (Mn w/ +7 oxidation state is purple) Yellow Orange Dark Blue; produced when ammonia is added to Cu2+ solutions Red-brown, Wine-red to dark orange Blue (Co2+ with HCl will form a CoCl42- complex that is blue) Purple

Al, K, Li, Mg, Na, Ca, Ba, Sr, Zn are colorless aqueous ions and most of their solid salts are white. Transition element ions with partially filled d orbitals tend to release colored light.

Assorted Compounds
F2 Cl2 Br2 I2 S8 NO NO2 PbI2 Metallic sulfides Fe2O3 Metallic oxides Pale-yellow gas Green-yellow gas Red-brown liquid Dark-violet vapor & dark metallic looking solid Yellow, odorous solid Colorless gas; associated with reactions between metals and dilute HNO3 Brown gas; associated with reactions between metals and concentrated HNO3 Bright yellow precipitate Sulfides of transition metals tend to be black Reddish brown (rust) Oxides of colored transition metal ions tend to be colored

Acid-Base Indicators
Phenolphthalein Red Litmus (paper) Colorless (pH<7) to Pink (pH>8 ; when OH- is present) Turns purple in alkaline solution

Blue Litmus (paper)

Courtesy Scott Halander Westview HS, SD, CA

Turns pink in acidic solution