Here is a video displaying the production of colour as a nitrated salt is sprayed into the flame of a burner.

Below is the order of the chemicals displayed in the video:

Lithium Nitrate

Copper (II) Nitrate

Potassium Nitrate

Sodium Nitrate

Zinc Nitrate

Calcium Nitrate

 

 

What particles are found in the chemicals that may be responsible for the production of coloured light?

The particles that hold responsibility for producing coloured light are the electrons of an atom. As the metallic ion enters the flame of the burner, the electrons transfer from their original ground state onto their excited state, which is a quantum leap to a higher energy level. As the electrons proceed back down to their ground state, a photon with wavelengths of visible light is produced, which is the reason for coloured light to be shown in the video.

 

 

As you can see, Copper (II) Nitrate produced a green photon of light. The cause for this chemical to produce a unique colour unlike other chemicals is due to its frequency. The wavelengths of Copper (II) Nitrate measure at approximately 500nm (nanometers), which is the cause for a green light to be produced as the electrons travel back down from their excited state to ground state.