What makes flames burn green

Adding either chemical to a fire yields a vivid green flame. For best results, mix borax or boric acid with methanol, a type of alcohol, and ignite the solution. The alcohol will burn off, leaving behind a white residue from the boron compound. You can add more alcohol to produce more colored fire. The boron compound is not consumed, so it can be re-used. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels.

Facebook Facebook Twitter Twitter. Updated November 21, Featured Video. Cite this Article Format. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.

How To Make Green Flames. Where to Buy Copper Sulfate Pentahydrate. How to Make Copper Acetate from Copper. Copper Facts: Chemical and Physical Properties. Common Chemicals and Where to Find Them. Your Privacy Rights.

To change or withdraw your consent choices for ThoughtCo. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. Exactly how much energy is lost affects what kind of light is made, which we may perceive as a difference in its color. Observations and results Did the sodium chloride—coated tip burn pure yellow-orange and the copper sulfate burn bluish-green?

A typical flame will burn yellow-orange with a little bit of blue near the base of the wick. When you burned the skewer tip coated with sodium chloride, you should have seen that the flame was pure yellow-orange without any blue. This is because when the metal sodium is burned, it makes intense yellow-orange light. When you burned the skewer tip coated with copper sulfate, you should have seen that the flame gained blue-green traces.

This is because when the metal copper is burned, it makes bluish-green light. If an atom's electrons lose energy, they drop down to a lower energy level, and the lost energy can be released as light. Different types of atoms, or elements, have different gaps between their energy levels, which causes them to make light of different colors when they're burned and lose that energy.

Cleanup Be sure to extinguish the candle and the skewers when you are done with the activity. When you are sure they have been extinguished after dipping them in the water container , you can dispose of the used skewers in the garbage. This activity brought to you in partnership with Science Buddies.

Already a subscriber? Sign in. Thanks for reading Scientific American. Create your free account or Sign in to continue. See Subscription Options. Discover World-Changing Science. Materials Adult helper Table salt chemical name: sodium chloride Small plastic bag Six bamboo skewers White glue Copper sulfate This is available via pet or aquarium stores and is used to combat algae or it is sold by home improvement stores as a root killer.

Make sure the product is pure copper sulfate and that it is in the form of powder or small crystals. Matches or lighter Candle Choose one that can either stand on its own or has a sturdy stand. Outdoor surface A place where you can safely burn a candle after it becomes twilight or dark outside. Be sure it is in an open area to allow good airflow. Container of water Disposable gloves These are strongly recommended for handling the copper sulfate.

Safety goggles recommended Flashlight optional Preparation Pour a small amount of table salt roughly one tablespoon into a small plastic bag. Apply a thin layer of glue to the top one inch of the tip of a skewer. Just a little bit of glue is enough. Dip the glue-coated tip of the skewer into the salt in the bag. Twist the skewer back and forth a bit to coat the skewer's tip with the salt.