As Bonfire Night lights up the skies, it is the perfect time to bring a little safe sparkle into the classroom with a colourful chemistry demonstration. This simple but striking experiment shows how different metal salts produce vivid flame colours when burned, from the crimson of lithium to the bright green of copper.
In this demonstration, ethanol is added to a series of beakers containing small amounts of metal salts. When ignited, each produces its own distinctive colour, the result is a beautiful rainbow of fire.
CLEAPSS provides clear safety guidance for this activity and it is important to follow their Special Risk Assessment (SRA 028, March 2025). Only ethanol (industrial denatured alcohol) should be used.
This demonstration is a great way to connect classroom science to Bonfire Night and spark discussion about how different substances behave when heated. It is also a useful reminder about fire safety, both in the lab and at home.
Watch the video below to see the experiment in action and enjoy the colours of chemistry safely. Remember, never add more alcohol once the flame is lit and always let it burn out naturally.