By: Ryan Chong
Have you ever wondered how fireworks can make such big explosions and bright colors? All paths of wonder will lead to the same destination: Chemistry. Fireworks are a mixture of oxidizers, fuel, and metal salts - the color producers of fireworks. The fuel component burns to produce energy, while the oxidizer factor provides enough oxygen to sustain the reaction. Then, the presence of heat starts a rapid chemical reaction that produces expanding gases, which eventually creates the explosion. Colors in fireworks are obtained from metal salts. Red comes from strontium, blue from copper, green from barium, and yellow from sodium. These metals burn at a very high temperature and emit certain wavelengths of light, which explains the variety of colors in a fireworks display. The timing of chemical reactions is the determining factor in a display of the fireworks in the sky. Some fireworks explode all at once, while others have delayed fuses that create a sequence of bursts.
Sound is another important factor in fireworks. The loud explosions come with the rapid expansion of gases from heat. Some fireworks are created with small pockets of air that actually pop when the explosion occurs. Through the precise use of chemistry, fireworks create an entrancing combination of color, sound, and energy, turning the study of science into a breathtaking art.
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