Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hi, we're doing the Rainbow Fire project. We've done EVERYTHING. The only thing we need help with, is knowing how the chemical's structure affects the fire it ignites in. What does the structure have to do with anything THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. LINKS WOULD BE NICE. THANKS. LOVE YOU

Hi

I assume the project you are doing is:

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p058.shtml

If you will read the project carefully it explains the cause of the colors of the flame.

Briefly, flame colors are caused by the atomic emission of the elements in the salts added to the flame and do not have much to do with the molecular structure of the compounds added to the flame in most instances. Here is a site with spectra emitted from the elements used in your project:

http://webmineral.com/help/FlameTest.shtml

Some general background on atomic emission from flames is here:

http://www.colorado.edu/physics/2000/qu ... index.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?tit ... =150188421

I hope this helps you understand the answer to your question.

Best regards,

Barrett L Tomlinson