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Reddit Chemistry: Why do metals make different-colored flames? (and other questions)

Melissa, Jam
Published Aug 13, 2026
46 min

About

Melissa and Jam answer science questions drawn from Reddit, including why different metals produce different flame colors and why carbon has its own major branch of chemistry. The episode also considers the gap between discovering something that works and understanding its mechanism, with stories about laboratory mistakes.

Topics

Flame colorsCarbon chemistryEveryday science

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