Chemistry of Fireworks
Matt ClarkeMrs. WrightChemistry 20
Introduction
Everyone enjoys a good fireworks show, but no one really knows the chemistry behind the big bangs and colourful explosions.
Fireworks are truly an amazing composition of chemistry invented by the Chinese
In origin, they were simple fire crackers but have now evolved into brilliant shows that light up the night sky
Ingredients for Combustion
In order for fireworks to achieve the effect they do, they must include six vital ingredients
1. Fuel 2. Oxidising Agents 3. Redusing Agents 4. Regulators 5. Coloring Agents 6. Binders
Fuel
Usually made up of black powder Used to set the chemical reaction of
the firework in actionChemistry point of view:o The fuel gives up the electrons to the atoms
within the oxidiser, resulting in the release of atoms from the oxidiser
o This forms a stable mixture that is easily combustable.
o When this mixture ignites it vaporizes and turns into a flame of ignition, therefore maximising the reaction of the oxidiser
Oxidising and Reducing Agents The Oxidising Agent is needed to produce the
oxygen needed to burn the mixtureo Usually made up of Nitrates, Chlorates and Perchlorateso Chlorates are better oxidisers for they give up more
oxygen molecules then Nitrateso Perchlorates produce even more oxygen than Chlorates,
but do not react as easily because they are more stable The Reducing Agent is needed to burn the
oxygen and produce hot gaseso Common reducing agents are sulfur and carbon. They
react with the oxygen to form sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide
Regulators and Coloring Agents Regulators are used to control the speed of the reactiono This is done by adding different metals to the mixture. The more
surface area a metal has, the faster the reaction will happen Coloring Agents are used to add, obviously, the color to
the mixtureo This is achieved by adding different elements to the mixture:
Sodium- Orange/Yellow, Strontium-Red, Barium-Green, Copper-Blueo Also, the combining of elements can be done to create even more
color combinations: Strontium + Copper = Purpleo Sometimes metals, such as iron, steel, zinc and aluminum are
added. This adds the effect of sparks. This happens because the flakes of metals are heated to a high enough temperature to either burn or shimmer brightly
o When the different elements are heated by the hot gases surrounding them inside the firework, they produce these luminous colors
Binding Agents
The last component of a firework is the Binder
This is used to keep all of the different parts of the firework together in a consistent, paste like mixture
From Land to Sky [1]
It all starts with the lift charge The ignition of the black powder in a confined space
propels the mixture, as I previously stated earlier into the air to be ignited
The lift charge can propelthe firework as high as 1000 feet
From Land to Sky [2]
The fuse is a vital component of a firework
It ignites the black powder to launch the fire work, and also ignites the time delay fuse that will light the firework once air born
From Land to Sky [3]
The launch tube is considered to be one of the most, if not the most, important component of a firework.
If the packaged mixture does not fit perfectly in the tube, when the black powder
is ignited the energy will simply just escape the tube and not propel the package into the air
From Land to Sky [4]
Once the firework is air born, in a series of controlled explosions, it breaks a part releasing the different components resulting in a colorful explosion
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