All hallows fire

As Samhain approaches bon fires will be blazing. This year why not make a special show and create colored fire.

For extra fun this Samhain/Halloween change the color of the flames

For Candles: add the chemicals to the wax, or soak the wicks in a
Solution of the chemicals using the "recipes" below

To Add to a Fire: Put three level spoons of the chemical into a paper
Cup; fill 1/2 full with water and stir. Soak several small chips of
Wood in this solution overnight. The next day, remove the chips with
Tweezers and lay on newspaper to dry. They can now be added to the
Flames to produce bright colors.

Brilliant Red Flame: strontium chloride

Deep Red Flame: boric acid or stronium nitrate

Red-Orange Flame: calcium choloride or calcium

Orange flame: calcium chloride

Yellow-Orange Flame: calcium chloride

Bright Yellow Flame: table salt, Sodium Chlorate or Potassium Nitrate

Yellow-Green Flame: borax (sodium tetraborate)

Green Flame: Borax or Boric acid, copper nitrates or barium nitrates,
Alum (thallium), or copper sulfate (blue vitrol/bluestone)

Blue Flame: calcium chloride

Violet Flame: potassium sulphate, potassium nitrate (saltpeter), or
Lithium Chlorate

White Flame: Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate)

Another special effect can be achieved by sprinkling powdered iron
Into a flame. If this is done slowly enough, a number of yellow,
Sparkling "stars" can be seen clearly.

WARNING: Add ONLY one chemical for color variation.


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Color burning Pinecones

The Things You'll Need:
Newspaper
Pine cones
Deep glass or plastic bowl
One salt or compound for color

Pour 1/2 gallon of hot water into a deep glass or plastic bowl.

Dissolve 8 ounces of any one of the following chemicals in the water:

Alum (thallium) for a bright green flame
Strontium chloride for a bright red flame
Boric acid for a deep red flame
Calcium for a reddish-orange flame
Calcium chloride for a yellowish-orange flame
Table salt for a yellow flame
Borax (sodium tetraborate) for a yellow-green flame
Blue vitriol (copper sulfate) or barium for a green flame
Saltpeter (potassium nitrate) for a violet flame
 Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) for a white flame.

 Soak the pine cones in the solution for 6 hours.

Dry them for at least three days in a warm, dry area on newspaper or hang in a mesh bag.

Tips:
To get the pine cones looking their best, heat them in the oven at 225 degrees F on a foil-covered cookie sheet. They will open all the way and look fuller.

Warnings:
Use only one salt or compound for color.

Be very careful handling these chemicals and follow the manufacturer' s directions. Some compounds can be poisonous if mishandled.