ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Flame

Flame is what we see when something burns. You know how when you light a candle or a match, you see a little flickering light? That's flame!

When something is burning, it means that it's turning into a gas that's on fire. This is what we call "combustion." It happens when something is heated up enough to release gases.

Now, these gases might look invisible to us, but when they combine with the air around them and get hot enough, they create a chemical reaction that produces a bright light. And that light is what we see as flame!

The color of the flame depends on what's burning. For example, if you burn wood, the flame will be yellow or orange because of the carbon in the wood. But if you burn a candle, the flame might be a little bit blue because it's burning the wax.

Flames can be very dangerous, so it's important to always be careful around them. Never play with matches or lighters without an adult's permission, and never put your hand too close to a flame because it can burn you.