When organic compounds are added to active nitrogen, the red and violet bands of the CN radical are emitted. The relative intensities of these red bands have been measured for a variety of added compounds, temperatures, and pressures. It is shown that there are at least three processes producing electronically excited CN radicals, two yielding CN(A2II) and one yielding CN(B2∑). The behavior of the flames indicates that a chain mechanism is involved. Adding ammonia, which does not react with nitrogen atoms, quenches the CN emission and inhibits the consumption of nitrogen atoms. It is concluded that a second reactive species in active nitrogen, possibly metastable N2(A3∑) molecules, initiates the reactions which result in light emission.