Cool Chemistry--Colored Fire

Today, we explore the science of coloring fire, by lighting different chemicals. The heat of fire excites the electrons in the atoms orbitals, causing them to shift up an energy level. But when they lose their energy, the go back down to their original orbital, releasing a photon as they go. This creates a different color of the spectrum, depending on the compounds you ignite.

Find Chemicals At:

Strontium Nitrate, Copper Chloride, and Boric Acid can be found at:

http://www.unitednuclear.com/



Calcium Chloride (used to melt snow) can be found in hardware stores.

Sodium Chloride (table salt) can be found in any supermarket.

Potassium Chloride can be found in any supermarket or hardware store.

Magnesium Sulfate (epsom salt) can be found in hardware stores, drug stores, or supermarkets.

NOTE: Copper Chloride and Potassium Chloride produce different colors then expected. Copper Chloride burns green, and Potassium Chloride burns orange-yellow.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Fire
• rainbow
• colored fire

[ThePeter74Peter]

are any of these chemicals toxic/safe if inhaled?

[MegaClaymationman]

@ThePeter74Peter

Most of them are not terribly good for you to ingest, so i would suggest a dust mask if you're doing the experiment inside

[R2Processor]

Nice colored flames! I have mixed hand sanitizer and borax/detergant which will give a green flame, I have not used it yet though... I am gonna also try the salt and see if the flame changes color, Then I will buy all these other things online to make some more colored flames so I can kill people muhahaha, I wonder what happens if you mix some of these and why my copper wire burns yellow with a jet flame but not green...

[ThePeter74Peter]

@MegaClaymationman Thanks!

[Celticninja011]

good job guys, its always nice to see Kids actually take an interest in what they are learning in school

[rcallicoat3]

next time just get to the point and show us the pretty flames

[stickystick105]

i believe francium is the rarest.

[WA5ON1]

COLORED FLAMES AT 2:24 (AT LAST)

[zsxwrsd]

make a bomb capable of destorying 2..3 miles.. pshttt and you said your a chemist!

[Fallschirmjaeger963]

please tell me the left one is a Chernobyllian girl with a cold?