Posted by Karen on November 12, 2000 at 17:40:24:
In Reply to: pinecones that change the color of flames in fire posted by Diane on November 11, 2000 at 22:12:06:
by Catten Ely
Throw a couple of these on your roaring winter fire and impress the kids.
Steps:
Pour 1/2 gallon of hot water into a deep glass or plastic bowl.
Dissolve 8 ounces of any one of the following chemicals in the water:
alum (thallium) for a bright green flame
strontium chloride for a bright red flame
boric acid for a deep red flame
calcium for a reddish-orange flame
calcium chloride for a yellowish-orange flame
table salt for a yellow flame
borax (sodium tetraborate) for a yellow-green flame
blue vitriol (copper sulfate) or barium for a green flame
saltpeter (potassium nitrate) for a violet flame
or Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) for a white flame
Soak the pinecones in the solution for 6 hours.
Dry them for at least three days in a warm, dry area on newspaper or hang in a mesh bag.
Tips:
To get the pinecones looking their best, heat them in the oven at 225 degrees F on a foil-covered
cookie sheet. They will open all the way and look fuller.
Warnings:
Use only one salt or compound for color.
Be very careful handling these chemicals and follow the manufacturer's directions. Some
compounds can be poisonous if mishandled.