Are There Black Flames?

Most recent answer: 10/26/2012

Q:
Are there such thing as black flames?
- Jethro R. (age 15)
Cabuyao, Laguna
A:

Hi Jethro,

We usually keep the name "flame" for something that's burning and giving off light. If we use the word that way, there can't be a black flame, since "black" means that no visible light is coming from it. If we just use "flame" to mean some gas that keeps burning, triggered by its own heat,  it seems as if there could be ones that don't give off light. The key would be to find something that burns without getting very hot. CS2 is probably a good example of something that could have a black flame.

-Henry H. and Mike W.


(published on 10/26/2012)