The Chemistry Of Fireworks! :D

• What is the first thing that comes to your mind when we say fireworks?

Teenagers nowadays refer to fireworks as that feeling you get during your first kiss, some only know it has the famous pop sensation Katy Perry's song "Fireworks!", and others are simply reminded of "Woohoo, Happy New Year!" 

• But what about the real meaning of firework? The essence of fireworks? The composition of it?

Most people look at it just as a bundle of colourful globes of fire but being science major students, we find it interesting to know how is it made, and we hope you do too...Is it rocket science difficult or is it simply something that we can work out ourselves in chemistry lab?

 
Generally fireworks generate three very noticeable forms of energy:
- a tremendous release of sound, 
-bright light, 
-and heat. 

The Chemistry of fireworks is based on the simple theory of combustion. The composition inside the firework must however contain 6 vital ingredients which are:
- fuel, 
-binder, 
-coloring agent, 
-oxidizing agent, 
-reducing agent and
- regulator.

 The colors are produced by heating metal salts, such as calcium chloride or sodium nitrate, that emit characteristic colors. The atoms of each element absorb energy and release it as light of specific colors. The energy absorbed by an atom rearranges its electrons from their lowest-energy state, called the ground state, up to a higher-energy state, called an excited state. The excess energy of the excited state is emitted as light, as the electrons descend to lower-energy states, and ultimately, the ground state. The amount of energy emitted is characteristic of the element, and the amount of energy determines the color of the light emitted. For example, when sodium nitrate is heated, the electrons of the sodium atoms absorb heat energy and become excited. This high-energy excited state does not last for long, and the excited electrons of the sodium atom quickly release their energy, about 200 kJ/mol, which is the energy of yellow light.

Looking further into this matter it is said that different chemicals are used to produce different coloured fireworks. Therefore, in order to produce a firework of a certain colour, the correct corresponding chemical or as the case may be, mixture of chemicals can be used, as illustrated below :