Chemical hanukkiah with colorful flames

Chemical hanukkiah base made to hold 4 mL glass screw thread vials that are common in chemistry laboratories.

Vial candle design (see scheme in the pictures section)

Each vial is filled with ethanol. A cap is made of aluminium foil that is slightly dented into the vial. A string is threaded through the aluminium cap to be used as a wick. I used the string that seals cotton wool pleat. Salts are then added into the dent in the aluminium foil cap and the wicks are lit (preferably in a dark place if regulations where you are allow).

The added salts should be soluble in ethanol and ideally not too hydrated or hygroscopic.

Salts and colors

Lithium chloride - red

Calcium chloride - orange

Sodium iodide - yellow

Manganese acetate - yellowish green

Boric acid - green

Copper acetate - green

Copper chloride - turquoise

Cesium iodide - blue

Potassium iodide - purple

P.S.

Chemistry is tricky, this design is a work in progress. It is the result of a few years of iterations, this year adding the printed base amongst others. By now, most salts reproducibly give fantastically colored flames. Even so, some of the salts make great colorful flames one time and then the next time don't light at all or give unremarkable flames. Play with the design until it works well for you.