Most fireplaces produce yellow and orange flames because burnt wood contains salts. By adding more chemicals, you can change the color of the flames for a special occasion, or just to enjoy watching them. To change the color of the fire, you can throw some chemicals on the flames, make wax blocks containing chemicals, or put the wood in water containing a chemical solution.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Choose Chemicals
Step 1. Choose the chemicals according to the color you want to produce
Buy them in powder form and do not substitute for chlorates, nitrates or permanganates. Some are common ingredients in household products and can be found in grocery stores, hardware stores, and garden supply stores. Others, on the other hand, can be found in stores that sell fireworks, chemical stores, fireplaces stores or online.
- Yellow: sodium chloride, is none other than table salt.
- Orange: calcium chloride, can be found among household products used to absorb moisture.
- Viola: potassium chloride, is the main ingredient of non-sodium salt substitutes.
- Green: copper sulphate, is found in products used to kill plant roots.
- Blue: copper chloride.
- Carmine (strong red): lithium chloride.
- Red: strontium chloride.
Method 2 of 4: Color the Fire by Putting Chemicals
Step 1. Throw a small amount of chemicals into the fire
A pinch should be enough for a few minutes of colored flames.
Step 2. Add chemicals individually or mix them to produce multicolored flames
Method 3 of 4: Paint the Fire with Wax Blocks
Step 1. Mix wax or paraffin in a coffee mug, which you will heat in a pot filled with boiling water
Step 2. Add about 2 teaspoons (30ml) of chemicals to the melted wax
Increase the amount if you want a deeper color.
You can make blocks of wax with just one chemical or you can mix some to produce multicolored flames
Step 3. Stir with a ladle until it starts to cool
Step 4. Pour the liquid mixture into oven-safe containers
Let it cool and solidify.
Step 5. Place one or more blocks of wax in the fire to create long lasting colored flames
Method 4 of 4: Color the Fire by Wetting the Wood
Step 1. Collect light wood, such as bark pieces, pine cones, twigs, and sawmill scraps
You can also use rolled up newspapers.
Step 2. Dissolve 230 g of chemicals per 4 liters of water
Use a plastic container outdoors and wear protective goggles and gloves.
For best results, use only one chemical per container of water with this method
Step 3. Place the wood in a mesh bag and soak it in the mixture of water and chemicals
Use a brick or other heavy object to hold it underwater.
Step 4. Leave the wood in the water for a day or more
Step 5. Remove the mesh bag from the water
Put the wet wood to dry on top of some newspapers.
Step 6. Burn the wood in the fire
Add one or two pieces at a time.
Advice
Some types of wood will produce colorful flames without having to add chemicals. Wood carried ashore by the oceans produces purple and blue flames. If at least 4 years old, the wood of the apple tree produces multicolored flames
Warnings
- Use chemicals with great care, according to the instructions in the package. Although they appear to be harmless substances, they can cause skin irritation or burns in large quantities (e.g. sodium chloride).
- If you add chemicals to a fireplace, make sure there is good ventilation in the house or else it will fill with stinking chemical smoke.
- Store hazardous chemicals carefully in airtight containers made of glass or plastic. Do not allow children or animals to approach these containers.
