Chemistry of Fireworks How Fireworks Works

Incandescence

Firework Colorants

Luminescence

How Fireworks WorkCreating firework is a complex process, requiring a lot art and application of physical science. Not including propellants or special effects, the points of light ejected from fireworks, termed 'stars', generally require an oxygen-producer, fuel, binder (to keep everything where it needs to be), and color producer. There are two main components of color production in fireworks, incandescence and luminescence.

IncandescenceIncandescence is the emission of light from a hot body due to it temperature.

Incandescence occurs in incandescent light bulbs, because the filament resists the flow of electrons. This resistance heats the filament to a temperature where part of the radiation falls in the visible spectrum. The majority of radiation, however, is emitted in the invisible infrared part of the spectrum, which is why incandescent light bulbs are inefficient. Metals like aluminum, magnesium,

and titanium, burn very brightly and are useful for increasing the temperature of the firework

LuminescenceLuminescence is light that usually occurs at low temperatures, and is thus a form of cold body radiation. It can be caused by chemical reactions, electrical energy, subatomic motions, or stress on a crystal. This makes luminescence different from incandescence, which is light generated by high temperatures.

Firework ColorantsColor Compound

Red strontium salts, lithium salts lithium carbonate, Li2CO3 = red strontium carbonate, SrCO3 = bright red

Orange calcium salts calcium chloride, CaCl2 calcium sulfate, CaSO4·xH2O, where x = 0,2,3,5

Yellow sodium compounds sodium nitrate, NaNO3 cryolite, Na3AlF6

White white-hot metal, such as magnesium or aluminum barium oxide, BaO

Green barium compounds + chlorine producer barium chloride, BaCl+ = bright green

Blue copper compounds + chlorine producer copper acetoarsenite (Paris Green), Cu3As2O3Cu(C2H3O2)2 = blue copper (I) chloride, CuCl = turquoise blue

Purple mixture of strontium (red) and copper (blue) compounds

http://holyfamily.edu/chem/fireworks.htmCreated by:Javier RiveraValery CadetCreated For:Dr. K.K. BaggaChem 120-A