How to Color a Campfire

Campfires often emit yellow and orange flames because the wood contains iron. By adding other chemicals, you can color fire to suit special occasions or simply change the color of fire for fun. You can sprinkle chemicals on the fire, pour wax cakes containing chemicals, or soak firewood in water and a chemical solution. Coloring fire is a fun activity, but always remember to be careful when dealing with fire and chemicals.

Table of Contents

Choose chemicals

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Specify the desired fire color. Although you can turn the flame into a variety of colors, it is important to determine the color you like best so that you know what chemical to use. You can create fire colors blue, turquoise, red, pink, green, orange, purple, yellow, or white. ^{[1] X Research Source}

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Identify suitable chemicals based on the color they can produce. To create the desired color of fire, you must choose the right chemicals. Use powdered chemicals, and do not substitute with chlorates, nitrates or permanganates as they will produce toxic byproducts when burned. ^{[2] X Research Source}

To create a blue flame: use copper chloride or calcium chloride.
To create a turquoise flame: use copper sulfate.
To create a red flame: use strontium chloride
To create a pink flame: use lithium chloride
To create a light green flame: use borax.
To create a green flame: use alum.
To create an orange flame: use sodium chloride.
To create a purple flame: use potassium chloride.
To create a yellow flame: use sodium carbonate.
To create a white flame: use magnesium sulfate.

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Purchase the necessary chemicals. Some flame retardants are not common household ingredients, so you’ll need to find them at your grocery store, hardware store, or garden supply store. You can buy other chemicals at chemical stores, fireworks, or online. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Copper sulfate is often used by plumbers to kill plant roots, so you can find it at hardware or home improvement stores.
Sodium chloride is table salt that you can buy at the grocery store.
Potassium chloride is commonly used as a water softener salt. You can buy it at many hardware stores.
Hanh is often used to wash clothes, so you can find it in the laundry products section of most supermarkets.
Magnesium sulfate is found in epsom salts, which you can buy at many drugstores.
Copper chloride, calcium chloride, strontium chloride, lithium chloride, sodium carbonate and alum can be purchased at chemical and fireworks stores or from online retailers.

Sprinkle chemicals on fire

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Campfire. Spraying chemicals directly on the campfire is often the most effective. Wait for the fire to burn until there is a layer of embers underneath and the flames have subsided a bit. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

For best results, you should wait for the flames to be about 30 cm high.

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Sprinkle a small amount of chemical on the embers. Start with a small pinch to test the chemical and make sure there are no bad reactions. Remember to stand back a bit when you sprinkle powder on the fire to prevent an accident. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Sprinkle chemicals on the edge of the fire instead of in the middle of the fire. This will reduce the risk of a large, dangerous fire.
Wear safety goggles and fire-resistant gloves when spraying chemicals on a fire.
Smoke from many of these chemicals can be a serious irritant, especially for people with breathing problems. You should wear a respirator when sprinkling chemicals on the fire, and pay attention to the direction of smoke.

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Continue adding chemicals until the fire changes color. The first sprinkle probably won’t change the color of the fire, so you should keep adding more chemical until you see a color change. Usually you will see the fire change color after about 1 minute. ^{[6] X Research Source}

Make wax cake

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Melt paraffin wax in a water bath. Place the heatproof bowl in a pot of boiling water over medium heat. Place a few pieces of paraffin wax in a bowl and heat until the wax is completely melted. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

You can buy wax blocks for molding at the grocery store or leftover candle stubs.
Do not melt the wax over an open flame or the wax will catch on fire.

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Stir the chemical powder into the wax. When the wax has melted completely, remove the wax bowl from the water bath. Add 1-2 tbsp (15-30 g) of chemical and mix thoroughly until chemical is mixed with wax. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

If you don’t want to mix the chemical directly with the wax, you can wrap the chemical in used laundry scented paper and place it in the bottom of the container where you plan to pour the wax.

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Let the mixture cool and pour into a paper cup. After mixing the chemicals with the wax, wait 5-10 minutes for the mixture to cool, then pour it into a cupcake paper mold while the mixture is still liquid to form a wax cake. ^{[9] X Research Source}

You can also use small paper or cardboard egg cartons to make wax cakes.

Soak firewood in chemicals

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Assemble dry, light fire-lighting materials. Wood materials such as shavings, wood chips, pine cones, and firewood are good choices. You can also use rolled up newspaper. ^{[12] X Research Source}

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Dissolve chemicals in water. Dissolve 450 g of your chosen chemical per 3.8 liters of water in a plastic bucket. Stir well to dissolve chemical powder faster. For best results, you should dissolve each chemical in a separate bucket of water. ^{[13] X Research Source}

You can use glass containers, but avoid metal materials, as metals can react with chemicals. Be careful not to drop broken glass in camping areas, near fires or fireplaces.
Remember to wear safety glasses, rubber gloves and a respirator when mixing chemical solutions.
It is best to mix the chemical solution outdoors, as some chemicals can contaminate the work area or produce toxic gases.

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Soak firewood in a chemical solution for a day. Pour the solution into a large container, such as an old ice bucket or plastic container. Place firewood in a mesh bag (such as an onion or potato bag) and soak in the solution. Use a brick or other heavy object on top of the bag of firewood to sink and soak for 24 hours. ^{[14] X Research Source}

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Remove the firewood bag from the solution and let it dry. Pick up the bag of firewood, wait a moment for the water to drip onto the container, then pour the pieces of wood onto newspaper or hang it in a dry, windy place. Let the firewood dry for 24 hours or more. ^{[15] X Research Source}

Remember to wear safety glasses when removing firewood from the chemical solution.
If not dried, these pieces of wood will be very difficult to burn when put in the fire.

Advice

Some types of firewood will produce colored fire without chemical treatment. Firewood washed ashore often produces purple and blue flames. If stored for at least 4 years, applewood will produce colorful flames.
Remember to use protective clothing such as goggles and gloves when coloring a fire.

Warning

Handle chemicals carefully according to the instructions on the package. Even seemingly innocuous chemicals like sodium chloride can cause skin irritation or burns if used in large amounts.
Store hazardous chemicals in sealed glass or plastic containers. Do not let children and pets near chemicals.
If you have chemicals and a fireplace, you need to make sure the fireplace is well ventilated so that the house doesn’t get flooded with chemical fumes.
Fire is not a toy and should never be treated as a game. Needless to say, everyone knows how dangerous fire can be and how quickly it can get out of control. Always keep a fire extinguisher or plenty of water nearby.

Things you need

Chemicals
Wax or paraffin
Coffee box
pot
Water
Paper molds for muffins or cupcakes
Firewood, pinecones, newspaper
Glass or plastic containers
Goggles
Glove
Mask or respirator
Apron or gown for protection when working with chemicals and waxes
Mesh bag
Brick or stone

Steps