2 Easy Ways to Make Green Flames at Home

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Explore the chemistry that causes regular fires to burn green
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Fires typically produce yellow and orange flames, but by adding different chemicals, you can turn the flames into an otherworldly shade of green. If you want to make green fire, simply mix household products that contain copper and boron, like boric acid, Borax, and copper sulfate, with methanol. Read on to learn exactly how to create green flames, what causes fire to burn green, and whether green flames are safe.

Making Green Fire

Mix a spoonful of boric acid, Borax, or copper sulfate with a spoonful of methanol in a ceramic or steel bowl. Then, use a lighter or match to ignite the methanol and create green flames. When the elements copper or boron are present in a fire, they turn the flames green.

Section 1 of 5:

How to Make Green Flames with Boric Acid

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    Add 1 spoonful of boric acid to a fire-safe bowl. Boric acid is a powder that’s commonly used as a pesticide. [1] When it reacts with fire, it turns the flames green. Simply pour some boric acid into a ceramic, stainless steel, cast iron, or other fire-safe bowl. [2]
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    Pour 1 spoonful of methanol into the bowl and mix the ingredients. Methanol is a type of alcohol that acts as the fire’s fuel. Simply add 1 spoonful of methanol into the bowl and mix the fuel and Borax together. [3]
    • Tip : If you can’t find pure methanol, use an antifreeze that contains it, like HEET .
    • Methanol is commonly used as engine fuel or antifreeze for vehicles. [4]
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    Put on a pair of fire-resistant gloves and safety glasses . Then, hold a lighter or lit match over the bowl to ignite the methanol. Watch as the flames immediately react with the boric acid and turn a brilliant green! [5]
    • As the methanol burns away, the flames typically get duller and smaller.
    • When you want more green flames, extinguish the fire and add more methanol. Then, ignite the fuel. Boric acid doesn’t burn, so you don’t have to add more.
    • Warning : Light the fire outside or in a well-ventilated room. Borax and boric acid can potentially be irritating and lead to coughing when inhaled. [6] Burning methanol also produces CO 2 , which can be harmful in large amounts. [7]
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Section 2 of 5:

How to Make Green Flames with Copper Sulfate

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    Pour 1 spoonful of copper sulfate into a fire-safe dish. Copper sulfate is a blue mineral that’s typically found in root-killers and algae-killers . [8] It also turns flames green when it reacts with fire. Just add a small amount of copper sulfate to a ceramic, stainless steel, or other fire-safe bowl. [9]
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    Add 1 spoonful of methanol into the bowl. To fuel the fire, pour methanol into the bowl. Or, use an antifreeze that contains it, like HEET . [10]
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    Wear a pair of fire-resistant gloves and safety glasses to protect yourself from the flames. Then, use a lighter or match to ignite the methanol and turn the fire green! [11]
    • Extinguish the fire and add more methanol when the flames start to die out. The fire consumes the methanol, but it doesn’t consume the copper sulfate.
    • Warning : Light the fire outside or in a well-ventilated room. Copper sulfate can cause eye irritation. [12] When methanol burns, it produces CO 2 , which can be harmful in large amounts. [13]
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Section 3 of 5:

Which chemicals make fire green?

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    If copper items or compounds get in your fire, they will turn the flames green. Your fire might burn green if you use copper cookware, the lumber was secured with copper staples, or you’re burning something dyed with copper. [14]
    • The copper in copper sulfate is what makes the flames green.
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    Boron is a metallic chemical element that makes fire green. Your fire might turn green if compounds that contain boron get on the lumber you're burning or if they are sprinkled on the fire. [15]
    • Both boric acid and Borax contain boron, which is why they make fire green.
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    Pressure-treated wood is typically coated in copper, chromium, and arsenic to help preserve it and protect it from rot, insects, and mold. Because pressure-treated wood usually contains copper, it can produce green flames when it’s burned. [16]
    • Warning : Do not burn pressure-treated wood. It is treated with chemicals that can be toxic when burned.
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    Barium is a metallic element that’s commonly used to make electrical parts, drilling muds, and paint. While you’re less likely to come across barium in your daily life, your fire might turn green if you burn something that contains it. [17]
    • Barium is commonly used to make green fireworks.
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Section 4 of 5:

Is green fire safe?

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    Burning chemicals like boron, copper, or barium to make green fire can produce gas and smoke that are irritating to your stomach, respiratory system, and eyes. [18] Cooking food over the flames also exposes it to these chemicals, which makes the food unsafe to consume. [19]
    • Make green flames outside or in a well-ventilated room to reduce your risk of breathing in the chemicals.
Section 5 of 5:

Green Fire Temperature

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    Green flames are typically the same temperature as orange and yellow flames, which run at around 1,000 to 1,400° C (1,800-2,500° F). This is because the green color comes from chemical additives and isn't an indication of heat on its own. White flames are generally the hottest flames, burning at 1,400 to 1,600° C (2,500-2,900° F). [20]
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      Tips

      • Sprinkle Borax, boric acid, or copper sulfate onto your bonfire to make the flames turn green, too.
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      Warnings

      • Always use caution when making a fire. Make green flames away from flammable objects and in a fire-safe area. Keep a fire extinguisher or water nearby in case the fire grows out of control.
        Thanks
      • Make green fire outside or in a well-ventilated area and handle boric acid, Borax, and copper sulfate carefully. These chemicals can be irritating if they’re inhaled or touched.
        Thanks
      • Wear fire-resistant gloves and safety glasses when making green flames to protect yourself from the flames and chemicals.
        Thanks
      • Keep boric acid, Borax, and copper sulfate away from children and pets. [21] These chemicals can be poisonous when ingested. [22]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/reg_actions/reregistration/fs_PC-011001_1-Sep-93.pdf
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/p2XIMKX3ktg?si=OIOxJlpu9GE4Mked&t=285
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/B-fC-lZUa4M?si=ezVC7HRWsfXzwkcG&t=32
      4. ↑ https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/emerging-methanol
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/B-fC-lZUa4M?si=P3MKLg_GcOoZOnoU&t=54
      6. ↑ https://www.poison.org/articles/borates
      7. ↑ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media_file/2020-08/Carbon-Dioxide.pdf
      8. ↑ http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/cuso4gen.html
      9. ↑ https://youtu.be/-GL_RGyoXPE?si=uHYLeaLALqDpzlNH&t=28
      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/-GL_RGyoXPE?si=o8j1jBd2duH5LnHT&t=37
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/Axb9LJEtB8o?si=jV4YofHavBZwtRqa&t=77
      3. ↑ http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/cuso4gen.html
      4. ↑ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media_file/2020-08/Carbon-Dioxide.pdf
      5. ↑ http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Chemical/flame.html
      6. ↑ https://sciencenotes.org/how-to-make-colored-fire/
      7. ↑ https://iwaste.epa.gov/guidance/natural-disaster/fact-sheets/types-of-waste?id=cca-treated-wood
      8. ↑ https://www.britannica.com/science/barium
      9. ↑ http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/cuso4gen.html
      10. ↑ https://www.poison.org/articles/can-borax-treat-inflammation
      11. ↑ https://pslc.ws/fire/howwhy/flameco.htm
      12. ↑ https://www.poison.org/articles/borates
      13. ↑ http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/cuso4gen.html

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