If barium is present in a flame test, what would be the observed color?

When barium is present in a flame test, it produces a characteristic apple green color. This color arises from the excitation of electrons in barium atoms when they are heated in a flame. As the electrons return to their ground state, they release energy in the form of light, and for barium, this light manifests as the bright green hue associated specifically with its flame test.

Other substances produce different colors: for instance, lithium produces a red flame, sodium results in a yellow flame, and copper can yield a blue or green flame, depending on its oxidation state. Understanding these characteristic colors is essential for identifying the presence of specific metal ions in qualitative analysis.