Question

Sodium chloride and strontium chloride are both white solids. How could you distinguish one from the other?

Short answer

By placing a small amount of water solution of the salt into a flame.

Step-by-step solution

Flame test

In chemistry, the flame test refers to an analyticalmethod by which specific elements can be detected because ofcertain flame colors visible to us.It easily detects whether a group 1 metal is present in a compound or not.

Determine the difference between sodium chloride and strontium chloride

• The difference could be noticed if a small amount of salt or a solution of salt inwater would be ignited or placed into a flame.

• In both the cases, the flame would change the color, that is, yellow for sodium salt and red for strontium salt.