Lab lesson

A few weeks ago, we had a memorable lab lesson.
On one of the experiments which required the use of a bunsen burner, my friend dumped large amounts of copper into the flame. The flame then turned into a shocking green colour, probably similar to what would happen in a strike back. We all could not help but laugh, and from then on we tried pouring different types of metal, like iron and zinc, into the fire, and examined the results. Some of us even wanted to try the magnesium ribbon, but we all know that magnesium combusted in the presence of fire would form magnesium oxide, and a bright spark would also be produced.
It was later revealed that my friend only did that because he read a book on fireworks which said that dumping copper into fire would produce a green flame. In other words, only with prior knowledge did he attempt such an act. However, even if the wasn't a fire in the laboratory, there were various other implications. The technician had to attempt to pour out copper trapped in the bunsen burner, and even after a week the copper was not completely removed, and there were sometimes where parts of the fire turned green. Having witness how troublesome and potentially dangerous pouring substances to the bunsen burner can be, I would not attempt such an act.