What happens to the flame color of carbon when it burns in air?

When carbon burns in air, particularly in the form of a substance like charcoal or wood, the flame produced is typically yellow or orange. This coloration arises from the presence of small soot particles created by incomplete combustion. As the carbon burns, these particles heat up and incandescence occurs, emitting light in the yellow to orange spectrum.

The characteristic yellow/orange flame is most evident when there is not enough oxygen available for complete combustion to occur, which would otherwise result in a cleaner blue flame. In conditions where supply of air is limited, the soot particles are not fully oxidized, leading to this typical flame color associated with burning carbon.