The Chemistry of Fireworks

Hello All,

Fireworks by Anna Langova

Have you ever wondered how firework manufacturers test their goods to insure the desired height, color, and pattern are achieved?  Watch this great 3 minute video from Weird Science: I Didn't Know That Fireworks.

Balloon demonstrations are shown in the short video, Kid Guides: The Science of Fireworks using chemicals that produce various firework colors.  During the introduction, the proper packing for producing designs is discussed.

Still looking for an explanation with a bit more depth and a tad more chemistry, try reading Chemical of the Week: Fireworks!  The site is part of the Science is Fun in the Lab of Shakhashiri out of University of Wisconsin - Madison. If you are a chemistry teacher or soon will cover a unit on chemistry, I encourage you after reading through the information on fireworks to go to http://www.scifun.org/.  Dr. Shakhashiri’s site is an outstanding resource for the chemistry classroom.

Here is a well written blog article, How do Fireworks Work by Melissae Fellet.  It includes the video The Chemistry of Fireworks featuring Dr. John Conkling.

Often when I think of fireworks, I think of the classic flame test lab we performed in a college chemistry lab.  It’s easy to search and find many lab procedures for the flame test lab.  I like Lab: Flame Tests by Aaron Keller.  In addition to the basic flame test procedure, he integrated his own introduction video, a reference to the Nova Fireworks! video, and includes information about fireworks within the lab. Upon clicking the Nova link, I found 2 short video clips on fireworks.  The second, The Rockets Blue Glare is most relevant to the flame test lab.  

A little something extra, the anatomies of some favorite consumer fireworks can be found at PyroUniverse.com: How Fireworks Work.  Please read the disclaimer at the bottom of the site’s page.  The Nova link from the tab listed above also includes information on the anatomy of fireworks.

Happy 4th of July,

Mrs. A