A hot substance emits energy in the form of luminous radiation, that is, light, the dominant color of which gradually changes from infrared to ultraviolet as the temperature of the substance increases, writes the Italian scientific journal, Focus.
The temperature of most common fuels is such that the carbon particles from which they are made emit red light.
But the color of the flame also depends on the other substances that participate in the combustion. In fact, the molecules of some elements possess an excess of energy, which they emit in the form of light radiation, characteristic of each element.
Thus, for example, sodium generates a yellow flame, potassium a pink flame, barium green, methane blue, etc.
On the other hand, burning pure hydrogen forms an invisible flame because the light emitted is ultraviolet and our eyes cannot perceive it.