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Give two reasons why the flame test is sometimes invalid

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Answer: 1.A false positive and 2.A false negative.

Step-by-step explanation:

A false positive the classic example is the contamination of almost any sample with sodium ions which gives an intense yellow line even when the sodium is present as only impurity.

A false negative here sodium ions is the culprit that masks other emissions unless the emissions are resolved spectroscopically rather than simply visually.

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