What color does potassium produce during a flame test?

Potassium produces a lilac color during a flame test due to the excitation of its electrons. When potassium salts are introduced to a flame, the heat energy causes the electrons in the potassium atoms to become excited and move to higher energy levels. When these excited electrons return to their original state, they release energy in the form of light. The specific wavelengths of light emitted correspond to the lilac color visible in the flame.

In flame tests, different metal ions impart characteristic colors to the flame due to their unique electron configurations and the energies involved in their electronic transitions. This distinctive emission spectrum is what allows chemists to identify the presence of potassium and differentiate it from other metal ions, which produce different colors when subjected to the same test.