The Chemistry of Fireworks Adam Edick

How it’s made Fireworks are usually made with an oxidizing agent, a reducing agent, color agents, and binders. These are mixed to create fireworks.

Oxidizers The first thing in a firework is the oxidizing agent. These produce the Oxygen to burn the mixture. Oxidizers are usually nitrates, chlorates or perchlorates. The common oxidizers are nitrates. These are made up of a metal ion and the nitrate ion. The next Oxidizers are chlorates are also made up of a metal ion and then the chlorate ion. Chlorates give up all of their oxygen, causing a more spectacular reaction. Unfortunately this also makes the chemicals very explosive.

Reducing Agents Reducing agents burn the oxygen produced by the oxidizers to produce hot gasses. Two examples of reducing agents are Sulfur and Charcoal(carbon). These react with the oxygen to form respectively Sulfur Dioxide and Carbon Dioxide.

Binders Binders hold the mixture in a lump. This lump is a star. In order to form a star, two main elements are used. These two are dextrine dampened by water, or a shellac compound dampened by alcohol.

Regulators Metals can be added to regulate the speed at which the reaction. The larger the surface area of the metal, the faster the reaction will proceed.

Coloring Agents Different chemicals are used to produce different colored fireworks. MetalColor StrontiumRed CopperBlue BariumGreen SodiumYellow/Orange CalciumOrange IronGold

Composition

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