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:
Or, either of the above salts may be mixed with spirit of wine, as directed for Red Fire.
YELLOW FLAME.
Burn spirits of wine on common table salt or saltpetre.
ORANGE-COLOURED FLAME.
Burn spirit of wine on chloride of calcium, a substance obtained by evaporating muriate of lime to dryness.