Learn How to Make Green Fire

Its easy to make brilliant green fire. This cool chemistry project requires only two household chemicals. Green Fire Materials Boric acid:  You can find medical-grade boric acid in the pharmacy sections of some stores for use as a disinfectant. It is a white powder. Its not the same chemical as borax. You might try  Enoz Roach Away, which is 99 percent boric acid and is sold with household insecticides.Heet Gas-Line Antifreeze and Water Remover:  Heet is sold with automotive chemicals or through many online retailers.A metal or stoneware containerA lighter Instructions for Making Green Fire Pour some Heet into the container. How much you use will determine how long your fire will burn; 1/2 cup of Heet will provide about 10 minutes of fire.Sprinkle some boric acid—about 1 to 2 teaspoons—into the liquid and swirl it around to mix it up. It wont all dissolve, so dont worry if some powder remains at the bottom of the container.Set the container on a heat-safe surface and ignite it with a lighter.   Tips and Warnings Boric acid is a relatively safe household chemical. You can rinse the residue remaining in the container down the drain.This is an outdoor project. There isnt a lot of smoke produced, nor is it particularly toxic, but the heat is intense. It will set off your smoke alarm.Set your container on a heat-safe surface. Do not set it on a glass patio table, and dont use any container that might shatter. Use metal or possibly stoneware, not glass, wood, or plastic.Heet is primarily methanol (methyl alcohol). Try this project with other types of alcohol, such as ethanol, vodka, Everclear grain alcohol, or isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol). You might also try other common household metal salts for different flame colors. For example, try substituting rubbing alcohol for the Heet. The result will likely be a fire that alternates from orange to blue to green. It may not be as spectacular as the Heet fire, but it will still be pretty cool.The green fire could be used as a stunning Halloween dec oration in a cauldron or possibly inside a jack-o-lantern.Keep the chemicals for this project out of reach of children or pets, since methanol is harmful if swallowed. Read and follow any safety precautions listed on the labels of the specific products you use. Disclaimer: Please be advised that the content provided by our website is for EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. Fireworks and the chemicals contained within them are dangerous and should always be handled with care and used with common sense. By using this website you acknowledge that ThoughtCo., its parent About, Inc. (a/k/a Dotdash), and IAC/InterActive Corp. shall have no liability for any damages, injuries, or other legal matters caused by your use of fireworks or the knowledge or application of the information on this website. The providers of this content specifically do not condone using fireworks for disruptive, unsafe, illegal, or destructive purposes. You are responsible for following all applicable laws before using or applying the information provided on this website.