Answer Questions & Explain Please

Question

Ms. Johnson's grandpa used to entertain her and her brothers by throwing "fireplace crystals" into the fireplace. These crystals used to make the fire produce colors of red, green, and violet.

 

What ingredients did these crystals contain?

 

How do these crystals change the color of the flame?

Answer 1

Red can be formed using Calcium (brick red) or Strontium (crimson). Green is due to copper, and violet is from potassium. This is part of the flame test for ionic compounds. In the flame, there is enough energy for electrons of metals to move to higher energy levels. When they jump back down from the excited state, light corresponding to the energy difference is released.