Look up tonight, and you’ll see more than just bright lights, you’re watching chemistry in action.
If you’ve ever wondered how fireworks get their color, it all comes down to science, specifically metal salts. When fireworks are ignited, the intense heat triggers a chemical reaction that releases energy as light.
Different elements produce different colors, depending on the wavelengths of light their atoms emit.
Here’s a quick breakdown of some of the key ingredients behind the sparkle:
- Blue – Copper chloride
- Green – Barium chloride
- Purple – A mix of strontium and copper
- Red – (My personal favorite!) Strontium carbonate
- Orange – Calcium chloride
- Yellow – Sodium nitrate
- Silver/White – Magnesium or aluminum
Press play below to see a video I made breaking it all down visually.
In addition to these specific compounds, the colors can be further modified by adding various elements to create different shades and hues.
To make a deeper red color, for example, nitrates are added to the strontium salts. The specific combinations and concentrations of these chemicals determine the intensity and duration of the colors produced.
Firework manufacturers carefully design the composition and arrangement of these chemicals within the firework shell to create a sequence of colors and patterns, providing a visually stunning experience for spectators.
Be safe tonight and enjoy the show!
