Chapter U1.17, Problem 7E

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

Whether nitrate produces color flame or not needs to be explained.

Concept introduction:

Color flame is given by metals from which electron removal requires very low energy.

Answer to Problem 7E

Anion has very less influence in flame color. Generally flame color depends on the cation or metallic part of the salt.

Explanation of Solution

During flame test, the salt is heated in burner flame. Electron is removed from the metal and when it comes back to the original orbit then it imparts color to the flame. The color depends on the energy gap between the excited state and ground state energy level of the involved cation. The nitrate ion is anionic part thus, it does not show any flame test.