what determines the colour of an element? Why iron is green or copper is reddish brown?
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The color of an element is determined by the light they reflect. White light consists of VIBGYOR colors. When light is emitted to an atom, the electron of atom absorbs some radiations and reflects those which are not absorbed by them. For example, iron. An iron compound is usually green in color because electron of ferrous(iron) atoms absorbs low-wavelength radiations like Red, Yellow and Orange to gain energy and reflects Green which makes it to look greenish in color. Same with the Cuperous(Copper). You can study the Crystal Field Theory, the Photoelectric Effect and the Planck's Quantum Theory to understand this phenomenon better.
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