What Causes A Flame To Be Different Colors?
Colors in general result from either emission of light of specific wavelengths, or absorption of light of specific wavelengths from a mix of photons. At the root of both emission and absorption is the excitement of electrons. Electrons on atoms have different amounts of energy proportional to the distance of their orbital from the nucleus. Electrons (which are negative) close to the positive nucleus have lower potential energy; those in “higher” energy levels farther away have more energy. In order for an e- to “jump” from a lower level to a higher one it must absorb energy, often in the form of light. Conversely when an e- “falls” from a higher level to a lower one, it gives off energy, again in the form of a photon of light. The amount of energy either absorbed logically depends on the distance the electron “jumps” or “falls”. But the e- always absorbs or releases exactly one photon of light, not lots of photons for a big change in energy but a few photons for a small change in energ
