Why do we use HCl for flame test instead of HNO3 and H2SO4?

In Flame test concentrated HCl is used, because it converts the metal into their chlorides. Chlorides are much volatile than nitrates or sulphates which may be formed on reaction of metals with HNO. When heated in the flame the elements of the metals of the compounds become excited and go to higher energy levels.

Why is conc HCl used for making a paste with the salt before performing flame test?

Why do we use cone. HCl in preparing a paste of the salt for flame test? Ans. In order to convert metal salts into metal chlorides which are more volatile than other salts.

Which acid is stronger HCl or H2SO4 or HNO3?

HCl is the strongest acid (indicated by the lowest pKa) followed by H2SO4 and HNO3. H3PO4 is the weakest of the acids.

Why is nichrome wire washed with HCl?

The spectral lines of both (or more) metal ions will be present in the spectrum. This will make identifying the second or new ion very difficult. Cleaning the nichrome wire will limit the spectral lines seen to one element making the identification easier.

Why conc hno3 is not used in flame test?

Nitric and sulphuric acids are not used in flame test because they are highly oxidizing acid. Therefore, after the active metal is dipped in any of the two acids, it converts into water.

Why is HCl a stronger acid than H2SO4?

HCl is a stronger acid than H2SO4 because a proton more easily separates from chloride ion than from hydrogen sulphate ion and this is reflected in their dissociation constants. The lower the pKa value of an acid the stronger it is. The pKa values of HCl and H2SO4 are -6 and -3 , respectively.

Why platinum wire is used in flame test?

The sample below is a small piece of platinum wire that has been imbedded into a glass rod for use in flame tests. Platinum is especially good for this because it is unreactive, and does not produce a color in the flame which will mask the presence of other metals.

What is the purpose of using concentrated HCl in a flame test?

The purpose of using the concentrated HCL in a flame test is to convert the compounds into their metallic chlorides. In a flame test, the compounds of certain metals, in presence of concentrated HCl, form different colored flames. In the flame test the compounds become volatile and then the vapors form a different color of a flame.

Why do HCl compounds form different colored flames?

HCl, form different colored flames. In this test the compounds become volatile and then vapors form different colored flame’s. The purpose of using conc. HCl is to convert the compounds into their metallic chlorides.

Why can’t Dil HCl be used in the flame reaction?

When heated in the flame the elements of the metals of the compounds become excited and go to higher energy levels. dil HCl cannot be used because all salts will not form chlorides that easily with dil acid.

Can we use nitric acid in a flame test?

No u cant use NITRIC ACID in flame test. The reason being that NITRIC ACID is a highly oxidizing acid so the characteristic nascent hydrogen ( which burns and imparts the colour to the flame) that comes out when you dip any active metal in an acid is readily oxidized to Water when nitric acid is used . So no CHARACTERISTIC FLAME IS OBSERVED