Kamakiri said:Homework Statement
In the spectrum of the blue part in a candle flame, there’s a violet emission at 432 nm due to excited CH* molecules (chemiluminescence). Why 432? Why not 400 or 500? There are emissions at 436, 475 and 520 nm too. Why these numbers?
2. The attempt at a solution
Is it because the energies of the photons emitted correspond to these wavelengths, as E = hc/λ?
I read about Balmer lines. The H-alpha spectral line of hydrogen gas is red, since the energy of the photons emitted correspond to 656.3 nm, as E = hc/λ. Is that right?Quantum Defect said:Why do the Balmer lines in the Hydrogen spectrum have the wavelengths that they have? If you know the answer to that question, you know why CH* emits at the wavelengths that it does.
Kamakiri said:I read about Balmer lines. The H-alpha spectral line of hydrogen gas is red, since the energy of the photons emitted correspond to 656.3 nm, as E = hc/λ. Is that right?
The blue color in a candle flame is caused by the presence of carbon particles that are not fully combusted. These particles emit a blue light when heated, giving the flame its blue hue.
The blue part of the flame appears at the bottom because it is the hottest part of the flame. As the flame rises, it cools down and the blue color fades, giving way to the yellow and orange colors.
No, the blue part of the flame is not suitable for heating or cooking as it is the hottest part of the flame and can easily burn food or objects. The yellow and orange part of the flame is more suitable for heating and cooking as it is cooler and produces less heat.
Yes, the amount of blue in a candle flame can be affected by the type of wax used. Waxes that contain higher amounts of carbon, such as paraffin wax, will produce a bluer flame compared to waxes with lower amounts of carbon, such as beeswax.
The blue part of the flame can flicker or disappear due to changes in air flow or temperature. If there is not enough oxygen present, the carbon particles will not be able to fully combust and the blue color will be less prominent. Similarly, if there is a sudden gust of wind or a change in temperature, the distribution of heat in the flame can change, causing the blue color to flicker or disappear.