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For many people around the world, the first moments of the new year will be filled with the sounds of the new year and colorful light shows fireworks. From loud bangs to long whistles, from bright red to light blue, there are thousands of variations of fireworks, and there are entire branches Chemical Explore these fun explosions.
I am a chemist and president of the International Pyrotechnics Association, an organization that promotes the safe use of fireworks and the celebration of holidays with them, such as new year.
There are hundreds of chemical formulas for fireworks – or as I like to call them, pyrotechnic recipes. These recipes are still based on the ancient chemical mixtures that produce the typical explosions, but modern fireworks use all kinds of chemical wizardry to deliver today’s incredible displays.
It all starts with black powder
The first ingredient in any firework is an ancient explosive black powder. It was discovered by Chinese alchemists over a thousand years ago, and its recipe has changed little in the centuries since. To make black powder, you simply mix 75% potassium nitrate, 15% charcoal, and 10% sulfur. To make a basic firework or firecracker, simply place the powder into a container usually made of thick cardboard or paper.
Black powder is used to launch fireworks into the air and ignite and propel their effects, such as color, into patterns in the sky. So how does it work?
Once ignited with a fuse or spark, sulfur first melts at a temperature of 235 F (112.8 C). The sulfur flows through potassium nitrate and charcoal, then burns. This combustion reaction quickly produces large amounts of energy and gases—in other words, an explosion. If there is a small hole for the gas to escape, the reaction will launch the firework into the air. In a very confined space, it will explode the various parts of the firework and ignite everything nearby.
In addition to changing how tightly black powder is sealed, changing the size of the powder particles can also change how quickly it burns. Think campfire. When you add a larger branch, the flame burns longer and slower. If you throw a handful of sawdust into a flame, it will burn hot and fast. Black powder works similarly, which makes it easy to control the amount and rate of energy release.
Different chemicals produce different colors
If you put a very fine black powder into a confined space, it will explode, producing heat, gas, and noise. So where do the colors and bright light come from?
When you heat any material, what you are really doing is injecting energy into the electrons of the atoms of that material. If you excite the electrons enough, they release the excess energy in the form of light when they return to their normal energy level.
There are many different elements that, when added to fireworks and heated, release different wavelengths of light that appear in different colors. Strontium is red. Barium produces a green color. Copper burns blue, and so on.
Making fireworks that produce blue color has always been a challenge for pyrotechnics chemists. Dark blue is too dark to be seen against the night sky. But if the blue is too light, it will appear white. Therefore, the wavelength of “perfect blue” must be very precise. This is difficult to achieve because blue light has a shorter wavelength, which means the peaks and troughs of the light waves are very close together.
Certain elements create different colors, but what about sparkles and sparkles? To create these effects, various metals can be added to pyrotechnic recipes. Aluminum, magnesium and titanium all produce white sparks. By adding iron, you get golden sparkles. Mixing various types of charcoal can produce red and orange sparkles. Each of these elements burns at a different rate and manner, thus producing light of different colors and intensities.
make a whistle or roar
The final part of a great firework is the exciting sound effects.
To add sound effects to fireworks, you need a formula that can produce large amounts of gas quickly. If the firework has a small opening for the gas to escape, it will make a whistle. The speed of the gas and the size of the opening will change the pitch and sound of the whistle.
About the author
Paul E. Smith is an instructor in the chemistry program at Purdue University.
This article is reproduced from dialogue Licensed under Creative Commons. read Original article.
It’s much easier to create prosperity. Just put an energy formula in a closed space and the gas has nowhere to go. When ignited, the pressure builds and the firework explodes, producing a sudden roar or explosion.
When you watch fireworks on New Year’s Eve or set off your own in your backyard, you’ll now know how they work. Fireworks are fun, but the explosive and burning chemicals are dangerous—even if they do come in colorful packaging. If consumer fireworks are legal in your town, please do so appropriately.