Why do metal salts burn different colours?
The electrons in the atoms of the salt get excited when they heat up and gain energy. This leaves the atom in an excited stated. Eventually the electron will lose the energy. Energy is quantized meaning discrete and not continuous. Therefore the electron cannot lose its energy gradually but instead must lose specific amount of energy at even time intervals. Like instead of going down on a ramp you go down by stairs. So the electron will lose the energy and drop down to a lower level. Each element has different levels that the electron can drop down to. The number of levels the electrons drop down determines what color it releases.
