The glass rod and platinum wire are used to carry out flame tests. Dip the end in the compound or solution to be tested and hold it in the Bunsen burner flame. The flame may change colour if a certain ion is present.
The colours produced by some common ions are listed below:
| Species | Flame colour |
|---|---|
| Ammonium | Light green |
| Barium | Green |
| Calcium | Dark orange |
| Copper | Blue-green |
| Lead | Pink |
| Lithium | Red |
| Potassium | Violet |
| Sodium | Orange |
Tips for use: