The Science Behind Fireworks: How Different Chemicals Create Explosive Colours
Fireworks are known for their stunning visual effects and bright, colourful displays. But have you ever wondered what gives them their different colours? The answer lies in the chemical compounds and elements that are added to the firework mixture, which react with heat to produce different colours. In this article, we will explore in detail each colour and the specific chemicals used to achieve them.
Red Coloured Fireworks
Red is one of the most popular colours seen in fireworks displays, and it is created using strontium carbonate. This chemical compound is combined with black powder, which is used as fuel, and produces a bright red colour when ignited. The exact shade of red can be adjusted by controlling the amount of strontium carbonate added to the mixture.
Green Coloured Fireworks
Green-coloured fireworks are made using copper compounds, specifically copper chloride, which is combined with black powder to produce a bright green colour when ignited. The exact shade of green can be adjusted by controlling the amount of copper compounds added to the mixture.
Blue Coloured Fireworks
To produce blue colours in fireworks, copper chloride is combined with fuel, usually black powder or charcoal, and other metal salts such as potassium nitrate. When heated, these chemicals react to produce a blue colour. The exact shade of blue can be adjusted by controlling the amount of copper and metal salts added to the mixture.
Yellow Coloured Fireworks
Yellow-coloured fireworks are created using sodium compounds, usually, sodium nitrate or sodium oxalate, which are combined with fuel to produce a bright yellow colour when ignited. The exact shade of yellow can be adjusted by controlling the amount of sodium compounds added to the mixture.
Orange Coloured Fireworks
Orange is a popular colour used in fireworks displays and is created using calcium salts, typically calcium chloride. When heated, these compounds produce a bright orange colour. The exact shade of orange can be adjusted by controlling the amount of calcium salts added to the mixture.
Purple Coloured Fireworks
Purple is created by combining strontium and copper compounds with a fuel, typically black powder or charcoal. The exact shade of purple can be adjusted by controlling the amount of strontium and copper compounds added to the mixture.
Pink Coloured Fireworks
Pink-coloured fireworks are made by combining a high amount of strontium compounds with a small amount of copper compounds, which are then added to fuel. When heated, these compounds produce a bright pink colour. The exact shade of pink can be adjusted by controlling the amount of strontium and copper compounds added to the mixture.
White Coloured Fireworks
White fireworks are created using fuel and metal salts such as barium chloride, which produces a bright white light when ignited. The exact shade of white can be adjusted by controlling the amount of metal salts added to the mixture.
Other Effects
In addition to the different colours produced, fireworks can also create different effects, such as crackling, strobing, and loud reports. These effects are achieved by using different chemical compounds in the firework mixture. For example, crackling is produced by adding materials such as charcoal, sulfur, or zinc to the mixture, which produces a crackling sound when heated. Strobing effects can be created by adding metals such as aluminium to the mixture, which produces a bright strobing effect when heated. Finally, loud reports are created by adding burst charges and lift charges to the firework mixture, which create a loud, booming sound when the firework explodes.
In conclusion, the stunning visual effects produced by fireworks are made possible by carefully combining different chemicals and compounds in the firework mixture. By controlling the amount of these compounds, different colours and effects can be achieved. From the bright reds and greens to the stunning purples and pinks, understanding the science behind fireworks