Can Flame Test identify any unknown element?

Question

•  Explain why or why not

Answer 1

If the element is heated sufficiently, it should radiate with some measurable spectrum, which should have lines associated with specific wavelengths or frequencies of radiation of the element.  Comparing measured spectral lines against known characteristic lines for the elements could enable identification of the element.  Consider how we know the composition of the stars.  Astronomers collect spectral data, and compare the measured spectral lines to characteristic lines of the elements, and find that most of them correspond to hydrogen or helium gas.