Green flames, red flames, and blue flames already exist. I think it would be cool to have a midnight black flame burst out of the torch lighter. but I need some help from chemistry majors who have an interest in fire.
2007-03-31 06:15:22 · 3 answers · asked by Dante Fire 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
The color you see from flame is a function of its temperature and what you are burning. Since black is the absence of color, I don't think it's possible to create a flame (which, by definition, emits visible light/colors) that is black.
A flame which didn't emit any colors would be a clear flame, not a black flame.
But if I'm wrong, and you can figure it out, I'll buy one!
2007-03-31 06:26:21 · answer #1 · answered by knowmeansknow 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The idea of a midnight black flame is counterintuitive.
Black is the absence of visible radiation; white is the presence of all wavelengths of light. So basically, you're talking about a flame that has no wavelengths in the visible light spectrum. Essentially, this just an infrared "flame." In other words, it would be colorless. Not black, just clear and colorless.
So I don't really see the point in trying to develop such a product - you'll never end up with black.
2007-03-31 13:28:30 · answer #2 · answered by Jess4352 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Colour arises because materials reflect certain wavelengths of light. Black or darkness occurs either in the absence of light or when an object absorbs all of the light falling on it. Thus, a black flame must actually be cooler than its surroundings! however this will prevent it from burning.
One way is to have a lot of soot in the flame by incomplete combustion. However this is only dirty and inefficient.
2007-03-31 13:37:51 · answer #3 · answered by ag_iitkgp 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋