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Chemistry Forums for Students => Undergraduate General Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: topher3683 on January 12, 2007, 01:19:26 AM

Title: liquids to make different flame colors
Post by: topher3683 on January 12, 2007, 01:19:26 AM

Hello All,

I am trying to come up with several alcohol solutions that will burn with different flame colors. I became interested in this when I saw a show downtown, and they had these 20 foot flames that could change colors on command (digitally controlled I assumed). I wanted to reproduce one of these machines and thought I could make a Red, Blue, Yellow flame by creating the correct liquids. Does anyone have any experience with this? I'm having problems finding chemicals that dissolve in alcohol solutions.

Thanks
Chris M

Title: Re: liquids to make different flame colors
Post by: constant thinker on January 12, 2007, 09:32:50 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flame_test#Common_Metals

That should help you  at least identify which metals will give you what colors. From there you'll need to try to find salts of the desired metal that are soluble in whichever alcohol you are trying to use.

Also, are you sure they weren't just adding a solid metal salt into a flame that is produced by say, a hydrocarbon?