In a flame test, what color is observed for calcium?

In a flame test, calcium ions produce a characteristic brick red color when subjected to a flame. This color arises due to the excitation of electrons within the calcium atoms when they absorb energy from the heat of the flame.

As the electrons return to their ground state, they emit light at specific wavelengths, which corresponds to the visible spectrum. The emission spectrum for calcium is particularly strong in the red region, leading to the distinctive brick red color seen in the flame test.

This unique response to heat makes the flame test a useful qualitative analysis method in identifying the presence of calcium in a sample. The other colors associated with different elements in a flame test, such as the other options mentioned, do not correspond to calcium, highlighting the significance of the brick red color for this specific element.