COLOURED FLAMES.
Blue :—Parts by weight: burnt alum, 6; carbonate of copper, 6; sulphur, 8; chlorate of potash, 30
Crimson :—Chlorate of potash, 30; carbonate of strontia
(calcium), 12; sulphur, 8. Another for Demon Torches:—Add as much
powdered chloride of calcium to an ounce of spirit of salt as will make
a mixture like thick mortar, lay a gridiron over a slow fire, and on it
place the cup containing this compound; let it boil two hours or more
till nearly dry. Note.—The fumes are noxious. After
letting it cool, add four to five ounces of pyroxylic spirit, and pour
all into a white bottle for use. Use but little of the sediment, which
will settle down. For use, wind common cotton wick round a nail into a
ball of two inches diameter, and fix on a torch, or where needed. Pour
on as much as the cotton will drink in without waste. Light with a bit
of lighted paper.
Green :—Boracic acid, 5; chlorate of potash, 35; sulphur, 8.
Greenish Blue:—Shake up in a phial, in a table-spoonful of
spirit of wine, two or three pinches of sulphate of copper (nitrate or
chloride will answer also) ; wind some wick on a rod or wire, and
ignite.
Orange :—Chalk, 16 ; chlorate of potash, 26 ; sulphur, 7.
Purple :—Chalk, 12; chlorate of potash, 30 ; sulphur, 8.
Yellow:—Chlorate of potash, 30; dried soda, 12; sulphur, 8.
Pale Yellow :—Same as for greenish blue, with the addition of a teaspoonful of common table salt.
Variations in the proportions of the substances will cause different shades. Observe that
the materials must be powdered separately in a mortar, be perfectly
dry, and be mixed with the hand. Make only enough for one performance,
as they will not keep, from their liability to spontaneous combustion.
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