Group 2: Alkaline earth metals
Read our general notes on Risk Assessment
I think I‘ve lost my flame colours sheet and I can‘t find it in the textbook –please can I have a list of the colours?
Ion flame colour ion flame colour
Lithium red
Sodium golden yellow magnesium none (radiates outside visible spectrum)
Potassium lilac (pale mauve) calcium dull red
Rubidium darker lilac strontium bright red
Caesium ? barium green
NB When quoting colours, you can use a descriptive adjective (dark, pale etc) but don’t combine colours (yellow/green etc). Examiners find colour descriptions very difficult to mark fairly; it is unwise to ‘hedge your bets’!
Ulex
Risk assessment
Before attempting any practical work based on the advice and suggestions on this website, you must do the following. Identify any hazards, assess the risks from these hazards, and then decide appropriate control measures to reduce the risks. You must have these approved by those in authority in your school or college laboratory. Do not rely on what is said on this website.
For further guidance see our tutorial on Risk Assessment.
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updated: 20 April 2004
