the effects of burning salt vs. sugar?

Question

im working on a group project and im having a problem finding why the reactions happen. all im able to find is how to get different color flames.

Answer 1

Short answer: you can't burn salt.

Long answer: burning typically refers to something + oxygen --> carbon dioxide + water. Salt simply cannot undergo that reaction. Some salts can contain organic matter which can be burned, but most salts do not. Furthermore, some salts contain metals which, when electronically excited by the heat of the flame, emit colors (this is how fireworks generate color--different metals give different colors). But you're not burning the salt. By the way, you may not be burning the sugar either--it takes a while to burn it, at first you just melt it.