Flame test: Is the metal atom or the metal ion responsible for the flame colour?
The phenomenon that is witnessed during a flame test is an "atomic emission".
This statement may seem inappropriate, since it is a solution of metal ions (and not atoms) that is tested. The reason for calling it atomic emission lies in the process occurring in the flame. One of the steps of the process is an atomization step. That is, the flame converts the metal ions into atoms. When a solution of sodium chloride is placed in a flame, for example, the solvent evaporates, leaving behind solid crystalline sodium chloride. This evaporation is then followed by the dissociation of the sodium chloride crystals into individual ground state atoms - a process that is termed atomization. Thus sodium atoms are actually present in the flame at this point rather than sodium ions, and the process of light emission actually involves these atoms rather than the ions.