Parlour Magic

by Unknown

COLOURED FLAMES.

A VARIETY of rays of light is exhibited by coloured flames, which are not to be seen in white light. Thus, pure hydrogen gas will burn with a blue flame, in which many of the rays of light are wanting. The flame of an oil-lamp contains most of the rays which are wanting in sunlight. Alcohol, mixed with water, when heated or burned, affords a flame with no other rays but yellow. The following salts, if finely powdered, and introduced into the exterior flame of a candle, or into the wick of a spirit-lamp will communicate to flame their peculiar colours:

Muriate of Soda (common salt)	Yellow.
Muriate of Potash	Pale violet.
Muriate of Lime	Brick red.
Muriate of Strontia	Bright crimson.
Muriate of Lithia	Red.
Muriate of Baryta	Pale apple-green.
Muriate of Copper	Bluish green.
Borax	Green.

Or, either of the above salts may be mixed with spirit of wine, as directed for Red Fire.