The Chemistry of Fireworks Is More Important Than You Think

The color of fireworks comes from specific makeups of different chemical elements. Have you ever wondered why those specific compounds give off certain color flames while others don't? In this video I talk about the chemistry of fireworks and what type of elements are put into fireworks to give off certain colors. I also talk about how this same chemical concept is applied in the analytical chemistry lab through atomic emissions spectroscopy and the reasons why elements give off light. I go into molecular orbitals and energy levels and how heating atoms lets them give off light through basic chemistry. The science behind fireworks and pyrotechnics is very cool and the concepts you see every Fourth of July are very important in the chemistry lab.

[fedorkochemasov]

That's really cool. And even though I knew that it's always great to refresh my memory on some of those concepts.