Flame

A flame is a self-sustaining oxidizing chemical reaction producing energy and ionized gas (plasma). It consists of reacting gases emitting light and infrared, which spectrum is dependant on the chemical composition of the burning elements. In many cases such as burning organic matter like wood or incomplete combustion of gas, incandescent solid particles (soot) produce the familiar red-orange 'fire' color light. This light has a continuous spectrum. Complete combustion of gas has a dim blue color due to the emission of single wavelength radiations from various electron transitions in the excited molecules formed in the flame. Usually oxygen is involved, but hydrogen burning in chlorine produces a flame as well, producing hydrogen chloride HCl. This gas dissolved in water is called hydrochloric acid. Other possible combinations producing flames (amongst many more) are fluorine and hydrogen or hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide.

Related Topics:
Plasma - Infrared - Spectrum - Combustion - Soot - Hydrogen - Chlorine - Hydrogen chloride - Hydrochloric acid - Fluorine - Hydrazine - Nitrogen tetroxide

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Here a few examples with flames.

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