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
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.