Sodium flame test

Credit: DAVID TAYLOR/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Caption: Flame test for sodium. A compound containing the element sodium (symbol Na) produces a characteristic yellow flame when heated in a bunsen burner. This colour is produced when sodium electrons give off extra energy as a specific type of radiation (in this case it is visible light but it can be radio waves or gamma rays). This distinct energy release is known as an emission spectrum. Each element has its own emission spectrum, which allows it to be identified in different materials.

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Keywords: bunsen, burning, chemical, chemistry, combustion, demonstration, electrons, element, emission spectrum, experiment, fire, flame, ions, lab, laboratory, metal, na, one, orange, physical, physics, reacting, reaction, single, sodium, test, testing, yellow

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