How Do Fireworks Work?

Everyone loves fireworks, except for small children and dogs, but what exactly goes into making the explosive and beautiful balls of fire?

Fireworks are a lot more than balls of explosive powder with a fuse. They are perfectly constructed chemical masterpieces used in celebrations all over the world. First, let’s look at how pyrotechnicians create the various colors of fireworks.

When a firework explodes, it essentially is a chain reaction of chemical reactions that result in different shapes and colors in the sky. As you likely expected, the explosion creates heat that starts the burning of different chemicals packed within the shell. To make different colors, pyrotechnicians have to use different chemical compounds, some more dangerous than others. These compounds are typically metal salts which burn specific colors. Compounds based on Sodium will burn different shades of yellow or orange, copper or barium salts will burn green or blue, and calcium or strontium make red shades. Combining these compounds in different layouts within the projectile will create different shapes.

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Music:

[mikey]

America and Russia have the most fire works, they're called nukes or something idk

[scarxiett]

Thank you so much for explaining this so clearly!!

[endrankluvsdaloko]

Very interesting! Very cool stuff! It's amazing to think there are people out there who spend all day making these for a living. Pretty wild stuff.

[iFrostNight]

Yoooo this 4th of July, while watching the fireworks, I asked my engineering classmate if a firework engineer was a thing. Never thought of it before.

[brandongomez]

Dont know how i ended up here but i found this video very interesting and informative lol😂🎆

[globeouthome]

Fun fact: This will be recommended after 10years

[hasnainbaig]

Can you please explain the sound effect in these fireworks?
What components are used for whistle kind of sound or is it just geometry of the fire bomb?

[jessiemashteare]

Who else is here because you just saw the fireworks?

[EndeavorBlack]

Children love fireworks 🎆🎇 I know i did and had a lot of fun 😂

[sirgodkhenmu]

Thank you for heling me on my project!

[krampus]

My stupid ass thinking my whole life that fireworks just explode and there is no left over pollution

[hellohi]

Thank you China 🇨🇳 amazing contribution and invention

[conradmcdougall]

The May 24 weekend is here in Canada. Great timed video

[umeedbandu]

take a shot every time he says the word "Chemical "

[TianyuQi]

so there are round and flat fireworks depending on how the maker makes it

[ryanpinkstone]

4:08 Don't use the pipet sideways!

[whatintheworld]

Science is complicated I’m so lost... this is too advanced for me