The flame test is a simple yet powerful technique used to identify certain metal ions based on the color they emit when heated in a flame. When an element’s atoms are excited by heat, their electrons absorb energy and jump to higher energy levels. As they return to their original states, they release that energy as visible light—each element emitting a characteristic color.

Common flame test colors include:

• Sodium (Na): bright yellow
• Potassium (K): pale violet
• Calcium (Ca): orange-red
• Copper (Cu): green or blue-green
• Strontium (Sr): bright red
• Barium (Ba): pale green
• Lithium (Li): crimson red

The flame test is especially useful in qualitative analysis in chemistry, forensics, and fireworks formulation, where the distinct colors help determine which elements are present. However, it’s limited to detecting elements that emit strong visible emissions and may not distinguish between elements with similar flame colors.