The Green Flame

Copper Sulphate and how to create a green flame

How to make Copper Sulphate crystals

When adding copper sulphate salts to hot water a copper sulphate solution can be made. This solution can either be put in a beaker, conical flask or a ceramic or glass plate/bowl. Then you must leave the solution to evaporate over time. After a week or two crystals should form. You can also put a pine cone in the beaker or plastic bucket to encourage the crystals to form on the pine cone.

The Green Fire

Now you can either apply some lighter fluid to the plate/bowl and then ignite this; you will be rewarded with your green flame. Or you can put the pinecone in a campfire and turn your campfire from an orange glow to an eery green glow. 

Here is a fantastic experiment that I'm sure would get primary children interested in science: Rainbow Flames

                                            (Science Company)

The science behind the green fire

The energy from the fire transfers some of this energy to the (metal) atoms in the copper sulphate crystals. This gives energy to the electrons in these atoms, which then jump to a higher energy state. They quickly drop back down losing energy; this energy is given out as light in the visible light spectrum; the wavelength of light given our for copper sulphate is green light. Hence, the reason why we get a green flame. (Science Company). 

Bibliography

andybethify. (2011) 5th grade science project rainbow flame [Online]
Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dw5bmM-sw3A (Accessed 20th April 2013)

Science Company. Creating Flame Colors [Online]
Available at: http://www.sciencecompany.com/Creating-Flame-Colors-W150.aspx (Accessed 20th April 2013)