Flame Test Colors

Li+
Na+
K+
Ca2+
Sr2+
Ba2+
Cu2+

Deep red (crimson)

Yellow
Violet
Orange-red
Red
Green
Blue-green

Aqueous Ion Colors

Cu1+
Cu2+
Fe
Fe2+
Fe3+
Co2+
Cr3+
Ni2+
Mn2+
Pb3+
V2+
V3+
MnO4CrO42Cr2O72Cu(NH3)42+
FeSCN2+
CoCl42Ti(H2O)63+

Green
Blue
Yellow to red-orange (depending on anion and charge of Fe); in
rare cases, can form complex ion with a deep blue color
yellow-green (depending on the anion)
orange-red (depending on the anion)
Pink
Violet (Cr(NO3)3 to Green (CrCl3)
Green
Pink
blue-green (Pb2+ and Pb4+ are colorless)
violet
blue-green
Purple (Mn w/ +7 oxidation state is purple)
Yellow
Orange
Dark Blue; produced when ammonia is added to Cu2+ solutions
Red-brown, Wine-red to dark orange
Blue (Co2+ with HCl will form a CoCl42- complex that is blue)
Purple

Al, K, Li, Mg, Na, Ca, Ba, Sr, Zn are colorless aqueous ions and most of their solid salts are white.
Transition element ions with partially filled d orbitals tend to release colored light.

Assorted Compounds
F2
Cl2
Br2
I2
S8
NO
NO2
PbI2
Metallic sulfides
Fe2O3
Metallic oxides

Pale-yellow gas
Green-yellow gas
Red-brown liquid
Dark-violet vapor & dark metallic looking solid
Yellow, odorous solid
Colorless gas; associated with reactions between metals and dilute HNO3
Brown gas; associated with reactions between metals and concentrated HNO 3
Bright yellow precipitate
Sulfides of transition metals tend to be black
Reddish brown (rust)
Oxides of colored transition metal ions tend to be colored

Acid-Base Indicators
Phenolphthalein
Red Litmus (paper)
Blue Litmus (paper)

Colorless (pH<7) to Pink (pH>8 ; when OH- is present)

Turns purple in alkaline solution
Turns pink in acidic solution

Courtesy Scott Halander

Westview HS, SD, CA