Igniting Interest in Chemistry

THE CHEMISTRY OF FIREWORKS

Introduction

Kaboom! Oooh! Aahh! The golden sparkles explode and float
down the darkened sky, thrilling everyone watching below.
Every Fourth of July, millions of Americans go to local parks
to watch exciting fireworks presentations. Fireworks have been
a familiar part of celebrations for centuries. For most of
that time, the designing of fireworks was a craft. Only
recently have people begun to try and understand the science
involved in creating the spectacular fireworks displays we all
enjoy. What are the component parts of fireworks? What
chemical compounds cause fireworks to explode? What chemical
compounds are responsible for the colors of fireworks? In this
WebQuest you will explore the chemistry of fireworks and
answer some of these questions.

Task

Your job in this WebQuest is: 
-to discover the
component parts of fireworks 
-to identify the
chemical compounds that are responsible for the brilliant
colors that light up the sky as fireworks explode -to find out
when the first fireworks were invented
-to learn about
firework design and how fireworks are built
-to find out
what chemical compounds are responsible for the colors seen in
fireworks
-to answer a set of questions about fireworks to
demonstrate what you have learned about their chemistry

Resources

Look at the web sites given here to find the information
that will enable you to answer questions about the chemistry
of fireworks.

Anatomy
of a Firework
Go to this site for a
diagram of the parts of a modern firework. Each part of the
diagram has an active label. Click on each label to learn more
about that part of the firework.


The
Chemistry of Fireworks  
Look at
this site to find out what fireworks are. You can also learn
what type of reaction occurs in fireworks.

History
of Fireworks NOTE** This site seems to be down right now
Visit this site to learn
about the history of fireworks.

Other Sites:

Fireworks:
The Science Behind the Spectacle
Visit this site to
learn more about the chemical reactions in fireworks. Find out
what two types of binders are used in fireworks today.
(This comes from the ThinkQuest library.  The library
contains unique educational web sites that have been created
through ThinkQuest competitions and programs. The library
currently contains more than 5,000 web sites to search and
surf. Built by kids for kids to use and learn. It is also a
great place to get ideas for your own project in one of our
many programs around the world.) 

How
Fireworks Work
At this site you can find out what
chemical compounds create the colors of modern fireworks.

Brief
History of Rockets  

Chemistry
of Firework Colors 

How
a Firework Rocket Works NOTE** Firefox (a browser) had problems loading this, and I had to save it to my hardrive and open with Internet Explorer. You may not have that problem, but it's still there.

On
Fire

Another Possibility:

Lights and
Colors (Higher Level of Difficulty)
Go to this site
to see what chemicals create the colors of fireworks. Before
the 19^th century, only the colors white, yellow,
and orange were possible in fireworks. When did the colors
red, green, blue, and purple become possible in fireworks?

Time

Due by Thursday, November 9th (End of the first Marking Period)

You should expect this assignment to take between 45 minutes and an hour to complete.

Process

Read through the following set of questions before you
begin your Internet research. As you explore each site, look
for answers to the questions.

If you'd like a worksheet, get one from my Blackboard site. Otherwise, type the questions and answers on your own paper.

1. Where and when were the first fireworks
   invented?  
   
2. What is the story behind their invention?
   
3. What type of simple chemical reaction occurs in
   fireworks?
   
4. What are the components of black powder? What are the
   ratios of these components?  
   
5. What two categories of emitters cause fireworks to emit
   light?  
   
6. What word describes the art of firework creating?
   
7. What is responsible for the whistling sound that often
   accompanies fireworks?  
   
8. Draw a diagram, labeling the components of modern
   fireworks. Include one fact or purpose of each.
   
9. What are the four component parts of modern fireworks?
   What does each part do? 
   
10. Create a table that lists the chemical compounds that
    create the following colors of fireworks: blue, turquoise,
    yellow, pink, red, brilliant red, green, bright green,
    purple, white. You may use chemical formulas rather than
    common names of compounds in your table.  
    

Conclusion

In the process of completing this WebQuest, you’ve become
informed about the chemistry behind fireworks, the chemical
compounds that are responsible for the brilliant colors seen
in fireworks, and about the component parts of modern
fireworks. You have also learned a little about the history of
fireworks. You have developed research skills as you explored
the web sites given, and identified the relevant information
to answer the set of questions above. Did you know that
certain chemical compounds produced colors when they are
burned? Were you surprised to discover how complex modern
fireworks are? Can you see why fireworks can be dangerous for
those who don’t understand how they work?

Adapted from a WebQuest
posted on
www.glencoe.com