Download Memorize Colors

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