If you didn’t know, compounds containing metal ions emit a certain wavelength of light when heated (this depends on the arrangement of electrons), and some emit a wavelength in the visible spectrum, producing colour. For example, copper can create a blue-green flame, and potassium can produce a lilac flame.
Has there been any attempts at artificial colouration of flame colours in certain products that could be used to indicate safety certification, temperature ratings of that specific appliance/equipment, make visible to what would otherwise be colourless flames, etc.?
I know something similar is done with certain gases, colourless and odourless gases that are dangerous (flammable, toxic, etc.) are given distinctive colours and/or smell.
Are you asking this because of the green flame on a hob meme that was posted recently?
Yes the one in the science memes community. The idea popped in my mind
Thought as much!
In response to your question, I’ve got a chinesium jet lighter with metal over the jets that turns the flame purple.
Not sure if that’s the answer you were looking for though
I have heard of lighters with cosmetic colours! I think Hacksmith had (or has? Unsure if it was a limited time event or not) little bits to change the colour of their mini lightsaber lighter.
I was thinking more functional usecases for it though, yeah. Like you know that A equipment is certified to do B thing (heating or something, idk) because it has this colour of fire, or it’s used to show that this fire is a specified temperature (for specific applications that need it, then you can just say the distinct colour of fire vs “reddish”, “whitish”, and “blueish” flames)
What about the flames of a gas fire in a home?
Bluish - tepid Reddish - warm Whitish - flat out
I was thinking more artificial fire colours (like the distinct purple fire could mean it is suitable to burn X thing, or the green fire can melt Y thing easily). I was also thinking of using colours to indicate the safety of certain fires (some fires are more dangerous than others), or to give colour to what would be colourless fires.
What purpose would this serve? The temperature rating on my, stove… if my stove can’t handle its own ability to make heat no colored flame is going to make that a usable item. I just don’t see how a colored flame would be better than appropriate labeling and signage.
Fair enough. I just think it would look pretty cool!
People used to use a broom to detect hydrogen fires in (scientific) equipment. The fire normally being hard to see. I’m told that you would wave the broom around the equipment and when it burst into flame you’d found your fire.
Methane gas is given an additive to produce an odour to detect leaks, but the blue flame is just from burning methane.
I don’t see a practical application. You can buy powders that color camping flames but that’s just a toy.
Spectrometry seems closest to what you’re asking for (studying composition through light frequencies), it can be done to a fire but you don’t usually resort to fire for testing substances unless it was already going to burn. For stuff like fuels you wouldn’t really do that except for calibration purposes (calculating what the mixture and temperature is and how to adjust it) and even that is so rare I haven’t heard of it in use (but some searches show dyes are in use for this although not through burning).
