Why are the flames different colors when burning a log?

Answer 1

a different color flame, will indicate the different levels of oxygen intake of the flame. when the flame is blue, it indicates that the flame has a very low amount of O2 in the gas which is trying to burn. And when the flame is RED, means that there is more oxygen available when it is burnt.

Answer 2

Atoms are surrounded by electrons that are in orbitals, or energy levels, around the nucleus. The electrons can be 'pushed' to another energy level but they always return to the energy level that is most stable or of least energy. Each atom has their electrons at slightly different energy levels, almost like finger prints for atoms.

It takes energy to push electrons into the next energy level but when the extra energy is removed the electrons return to their original orbit and release energy. That's what we see when the flames change color. You can even buy different solutions to put on the log to give you different colors.

Sodium is very common in living things and shows a yellow flame;

Copper shows a lovely apple green;

Potassium is purplish; and

Lithium is red.

The trouble is that sodium is so common and shows such a strong yellow flame it usually masks the other elements but occasionally we get a glimpses of them.

Scientists use the principal of "the flame test" to help them identify elements. Mass spectrometry analyses the wavelengths both visible and non-visible of light emitted from excited atoms. They use this information to determine the content of samples.

Answer 3

The hotter the flame, the less color (and light) given off. Bright, yellow flames are the result of carbon that has not been burned, where blue flames indicate a near total burning of the fuel. Other chemicals present in the wood can color flames- sometimes added for the appearance- red, yellow, blue, green.

Answer 4

Its comes from the dirty of the flame if its red its the dirty the blue is pure so that's it