What makes fire red

Flame tests are useful because gas excitations produce a signature line emission spectrum for an element. In comparison, incandescence produces a continuous band of light with a peak dependent on the temperature of the hot object. When the atoms of a gas or vapor are excited, for instance by heating or by applying an electrical field, their electrons are able to move from their ground state to higher energy levels.

As they return to their ground state, following clearly defined paths according to quantum probabilities, they emit photons of very specific energy. This energy corresponds to particular wavelengths of light, and so produces particular colors of light. Each element has a "fingerprint" in terms of its line emission spectrum, as illustrated by the examples below. A few are easier to find online. Some of these chemicals are available either as solids or as liquids.

Colored flames also result from burning color-print newspaper, magazines, and some plastics, like garden hoses. While these other methods produce colored fire, their combustion may also release toxic fumes. Color-printed paper is reasonably safe to burn, although it may release cinders that can ignite nearby objects. Burning plastic is never a good idea because the smoke contains toxic and potentially carcinogenic chemicals.

For the most part, using salts produces the same smoke as a normal fire. For this reason, take care where you dispose of ashes. Why do you think this is? We are undergoing some spring clearing site maintenance and need to temporarily disable the commenting feature.

Thanks for your patience. Drag a word to its definition. You have answered 0 of 3 questions correctly and your score is:. Want to add a little wonder to your website? Help spread the wonder of families learning together. We sent you SMS, for complete subscription please reply. Follow Twitter Instagram Facebook. What is the color of fire? Why are gas stove flames blue? How does temperature affect the color of flames? Tags: See All Tags burn , chemistry , color , combustion , fire , flame , fossil fuel , gas , heat , hydrocarbon , lithium , organic , oxidant , oxygen , reaction , science , spectrum , temperature , tungsten , wavelength.

Wonder What's Next? Be sure to grab a friend or family member to help you check out the following activities: Do you have a gas stove at home? If not, find a friend or family member who has one. Ask an adult friend or family member to help you operate the gas stove so that you can see what the flames look like and how quickly they can heat a pot of water to the boiling point.

How do the flames change in both size and appearance when you change the burner setting from low to high? What do you know about natural gas? You might already know that it's a fossil fuel, but there is so much more to know about this popular fuel. Be sure to check out Fun Facts about Natural Gas online to learn more.

For example, many people think natural gas smells bad, but it's actually odorless. Can you explain how these two views can both be true? Up for a challenge? If you have access to a few necessary ingredients and the help of an adult friend or family member, jump online and try out the Flame Test — Colorful Elements.

Make sure to be very careful when conducting this experiment! Do the results surprise you? Share what you learn with a friend. Did you get it? Test your knowledge. What are you wondering? Wonder Words fire flame color burn hue fuel roasting perfection flicker hover reaction chemical entranced combustion composition temperature oxidant compound Take the Wonder Word Challenge.

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