There isn't a single chemical that makes fire pink. The color of fire is determined by the temperature of the flame and the elements present in the burning material.
Pink flames are often a result of lithium salts being added to the fire. Lithium is a metal that burns with a distinctive pink color. This is why lithium salts are used in fireworks to create pink hues.
Here are some other factors that can influence the color of a flame:
- Temperature: A hotter flame tends to be whiter, while cooler flames can appear red, orange, or yellow.
- Fuel: The type of fuel being burned can also affect the color of the flame. For example, burning wood produces a yellow flame, while burning natural gas produces a blue flame.
- Other elements: Other elements, like copper (blue-green), strontium (red), and barium (green), can also contribute to the color of a flame.
Examples:
- Lithium Fireworks: Fireworks containing lithium compounds will often produce a pink or reddish-purple color.
- Pink Flame Test: In a chemistry lab, a pink flame is often observed when a lithium salt is heated in a flame test.
