Why Does Detergent Make Fire Turn Blue

Added: 2026-05-17

[00:00:00]Fire isn't always orange. The color of a flame actually depends on the chemicals being burnt and how much oxygen is available.

[00:00:09]When certain detergents or cleaning products are exposed to heat, they can release chemical compounds containing metals like copper or sodium.

[00:00:18]These atoms get excited by the heat and release [music] energy as visible light.

[00:00:24]Different elements produce different flame colors. Copper compounds often create blue or green flames, while sodium produces yellow-orange flames.

[00:00:32][music] The blue flame also tells us something important about combustion.

[00:00:38]Blue flames [music] are usually hotter and burn more efficiently because there's more oxygen available [music] and the fuel is combusting more completely.

[00:00:46]That's why gas stoves often burn blue instead of orange.

[00:00:51]In this experiment, chemistry [music] and heat combine to temporarily change the wavelength of light emitted by the flame.

[00:00:59]So, what looks like magic is actually atomic physics and combustion science happening right [music] in front of you.