Colorful smoke from burning WHAT?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the substances that can burn at mild temperatures (4 to 40°C) in the presence of oxygen and fire, specifically focusing on those that produce colorful flames or smoke. The inquiry seeks to identify materials that create prominent colors beyond the typical white, gray, or black when burned.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the existence of substances that can burn at the specified temperatures, suggesting that no known materials fit this criterion.
  • Another participant clarifies that most combustible materials can burn in air at temperatures between 0-40°C, seeking to understand the context of the original question.
  • A different participant introduces the concept of pyrophoric materials, specifically mentioning boranes, which can burn with a green flame when released into the atmosphere.
  • There is a mention that achieving colorful smoke is challenging under normal circumstances, indicating a distinction between colored flames and smoke.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the feasibility of burning substances at mild temperatures to produce colorful flames or smoke. There is no consensus on specific materials that meet the original inquiry.

Contextual Notes

The discussion does not resolve the assumptions about the conditions required for combustion or the specific definitions of "colorful" in the context of flames and smoke.

dudi
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Sorry guys I am not an expert, but I wondered for my general use

What substances do you know will burn in mild tempratures (4 to 40 C, let's say) simply in the presence of oxygen and fire (spark or surrounding fire) creating prominent colorful fire - hence different from white, gray or black. I heard copper has this feature, but I am not positive about that. Can anyone please help?

Sorry for bad english...
 
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There are no substances I am aware of that will burn in these temperatures.
 
when the surrounding environment (air) is at these tempratures?
 
I am not sure what you are asking about. Most combustible things will burn when surrounded by the air at 0-40 deg C.

Do you want it just to burn in typical circumstances? Like a match, or a torch, or a campfire?
 
He is asking about pyrophoric materials. Boranes burn with a green flame. All you have to do is to release it into the atmosphere. If you want smoke instead of colored flames that is a different thing altogether.
 
Thank you guys for replying! now I know colorful smoke is hard to achieve in normal circumstances... and Chemistree got me all right
 

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