Is purple fire hotter than red fire?

Is Purple Fire Hotter Than Red Fire? The Truth Behind Flame Colors

What Makes Fire Different Colors Anyway?

Fire color isn’t just for looks—it actually tells us a lot about what’s happening inside the flame. The color of fire is mainly determined by two things: temperature and chemical composition.

When stuff burns, the energy released excites the atoms and molecules in the flame. As they calm down, they release photons (light), and the color of that light depends on how much energy was released. High energy = shorter wavelength = blue or violet light. Low energy = longer wavelength = red or orange light.

But hold up—chemical elements can mess with this. Sodium, for example, turns flames yellow even at lower temps. So, yeah, color can be a little misleading sometimes.

Is Purple Fire Actually Hotter Than Red?

Short answer: usually, yes

In general, purple (or violet) fire is hotter than red fire. Red flames are typically the coolest visible flames, clocking in around 525–1000 °C (980–1800 °F). Purple or violet flames, on the other hand, can indicate temperatures over 1400 °C (2550+ °F).

Here’s a quick rough breakdown:

• Red = ~800–1000 °C

• Orange = ~1000–1200 °C

• Yellow = ~1200–1400 °C

• Blue = ~1400–1600 °C

• Violet/Purple = 1600+ °C

That said—ugh, here's the catch—not all purple fire is naturally hotter. Sometimes it’s the result of metal salts or specific chemicals (like potassium or lithium) that color the flame without making it hotter.

Chemical trickery: when colors lie

If you’ve ever done one of those "flame tests" in chemistry class, you’ll know what I mean. Potassium salts, for example, produce a lilac-colored flame, but it doesn't mean the flame is hotter than blue fire. It just looks more intense.

So yeah, color is usually a good indicator of heat... unless there’s some funky chemistry going on.

Real-World Examples: From Campfires to Jet Engines

Your backyard firepit

In a typical wood fire, you’ll mostly see red, orange, and yellow flames. That’s because wood doesn’t burn hot enough to reach the blue or purple range unless it's being fanned intensely with oxygen. The red parts of the flame are the coolest zones—usually just licking the surface. The brighter parts higher up? Slightly hotter.

Blowtorches and Bunsen burners

Blowtorches and lab burners often burn blue, thanks to better oxygen supply. More oxygen = more complete combustion = hotter flame. If you somehow managed to get a violet flame in this setting (not easy, honestly), it’d probably be insanely hot.

Jet engines and space stuff

Plasma thrusters and rocket engines can produce violet or even near-white flames, since the temperatures get ridiculously high—we're talking thousands of degrees Celsius. In that context, yes, violet flames are seriously no joke.

But Wait—Can You Actually See Purple Fire?

Honestly? Sometimes it’s more of a deep blue or indigo, depending on your eyes and the lighting around. Our human eyes aren’t great at distinguishing violet light, especially in daylight. What looks purple to one person might just seem blue-ish to someone else. Plus, camera sensors often mess with the color too (thanks, Instagram filters...).

So yeah, "purple" fire might not even be purple for real. It's complicated.

Final Thoughts: Fire's Color Is Only Part of the Story

Purple fire is usually hotter than red fire—but not always. You have to consider what’s burning, how much oxygen there is, and whether any chemicals are skewing the color.

So next time you’re watching flames dance in a campfire, don’t be fooled by appearances. Red’s cozy, sure—but if you see something shimmering in purple? Whoa, that’s either dangerously hot or chemically suspicious. Either way, maybe don’t stick your hand in it.

Because, y’know… fire.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.