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The colorful and impressive fireworks displays seen during New Year’s Eve, Fourth of July, and other events pack a lot of chemistry into those “Ooooo! Aah!” moments.
Sections
Activities
- How are Fireworks and Gunpowder Made?
from Royal Society of Chemistry Education
A literacy based activity to understand what is behind the explosive power of fireworks.
- What do we know about Fireworks? from ChemMatters Magazine
Choose from several short activities to use in combination with the ChemMatters articles.
Demos
- Flame Test (Rainbow Demo) from AACT
Observe the variety of colors produced when different metals or metallic salts are heated in a flame. - Types of Fireworks from Royal Society of Chemistry Education
Five video demonstrations are used to differentiate between the types of fireworks – Roman Candles, Shells, Catherine Wheels, Lancers and Cakes. - “Underwater Fireworks” Reaction of Chlorine and Acetylene from Flinn Scientific
Cautiously use this advanced demonstration in a well-ventilated fume hood.
Labs
- Alka-Seltzer Fireworks from Maryland Science Center
Use a fizzing reaction to create explosive art. - Create Underwater Fireworks with Chemistry from Scientific American
Use oil, water and food coloring to create colorful “explosions” in a beaker or glass.
Articles
- Fireworks from ChemMatters Magazine
How do fireworks explode and how do they produce spectacular bursts of color?
- What's in Fireworks? from C&EN
What makes those splashes of color in the sky? How have they changed through history?
- Fireworks Shower the Sky with Science
from ScienceNews Explores
What does it take to successfully send up a world-record-breaking firework?
- Meet the Mad Scientists who created Edible Fireworks from Wired
These two modern day Willy Wonkas connected delicious tastes and smells to fireworks.
- Festive Fireworks Create Harmful Pall of Pollution from Forbes
Fireworks affect the air around us. How much? What can we do?
- The Chemistry of Firework Colours from Compound Interest
The colors in fireworks stem from a variety of metal compounds, particularly metal salts.
- Eco-Friendly Fireworks for all your Celebratory Needs from Greenmatters
Unfortunately, fireworks aren’t always the most eco-friendly party favor.
Videos
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How do Sparklers Work? From ACS Reactions
Take an up close, slow motion look at the chemistry of how sparklers work.
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Fireworks in Space from National Geographic
If someone happened to celebrate Independence Day in outer space, what would happen to the fireworks?