why do elements or ions emit colors???

Answer 1

Atoms have specific energy levels that their atoms can exist at. Different ions have different energy levels. When a material is heated, some of the electrons absorb energy. This pops them to higher energy levels. When an electron drops back down to a lower level, it releases the energy as radiation. When the energy is high enough, we see it as light. Blue is the highest energy visible light, while red is the lowest. Because each atom has its own energy levels, it can only release specific colors of light.