Question

sodium ion and calcium ions produce nearly the same color in a flame test. Describe a way to differentiate between the two using a solution of Na2CO3 and write a balanced equation

Answer 1

To different sodium from calcium ions, we can add sodium and calcium ions separately to Na2CO3. On the sodium ion side, there will be no reaction while with Ca 2+ ions, the product resulting from the reaction will be CaCO3 via single replacement reaction. CaCO3 is a precipitate which makes the difference between the two ions.