Question:
Why do beryllium and magnesium not impart colour to the flame in the flame test?
Solution:
Be and Mg electrons are tightly bound to the atom due to the small atomic and ionic size. The flame is due to the excitation of the electron from its energy states. The
electrons of Be and Mgdo did not gain excitation from the energy provided by the flame. Hence they do not show any flame in the flame test.