04/11/2021
Chemistry of Fireworks
Whether its India winning at the world cup or Diwali celebrations, whether its 4th of July or Chinese new year, fireworks form an integral part of celebrations all around the world. Colorful skies can be a wonderful sight to see. They make our moments of joy vibrant and extra special. But have you ever given a thought to what goes into making these colorful explosives? Well, this blog will cover all the points you need to know about the Chemistry of Fireworks!
History:
Fireworks were discovered in China approximately 1000 years ago. According to the book ‘Essentials of the Mysterious Way of True Origin’ in 900 A.D, a mixture of sulphur, saltpeter and honey was used to reduce a house to cinders. But this mixture was found to be ill suited for making explosives and pyrotechnic mixtures as honey contained moisture. This gave rise to the invention of gunpowder. Gun powder was made up of three components charcoal, sulphur and potassium nitrate. Sulphur has a low melting point. Hence it contributes in better combustion of the gunpowder. Potassium nitrate is a very concentrated form of oxygen and acts as an oxidizer. Gunpowder is a very crude and fatal predecessor of the modern-day fireworks which we see light up the night sky.
Composition:
Fireworks require four basic ingredients that need to burn at the right temperature and at the right time. The first element is an oxidizer. An oxidizer is a chemical compound that supplies oxygen to burn. Saltpeter and sodium nitrate are used as oxidizers. The fuel is the second element. It is a chemical compound that is flammable in nature. Binder forms the third element in the fireworks and it helps in keeping all the chemicals present in the fireworks intact. It acts like a glue and helps in combining everything in the fireworks. Dextrin is the most commonly used binder. Lastly, Colorant forms the fourth and the final element. Its responsible for adding the color, shape and luster to the firework. The color of the fireworks depends on the type of metal salt used in it. Barium salts are responsible for the green color in explosives and fireworks, blue color comes from copper compounds, strontium salts add the red hue to the fireworks and purple fireworks owe their color to a combination of copper and strontium salts. Shimmering fireworks have magnesium, aluminum and titanium salts present.
Fireworks are a great way to light up the night sky on the days of celebrations. But its very important to keep in mind that there is a potential danger attached with them. After all, they are explosives. We should be very cautious while dealing with them. Along with health hazards, they also pose a grave threat to our environment. The gases that these fireworks release can disturb the gaseous composition of air when used in large numbers. Thus, it becomes vital for us to limit the usage of firecrackers, so that everyone can enjoy the festivities for years to come!
