Firework Chemistry Trivia Quiz

Answer: Saltpeter

Gunpowder is, of course, black in colour, provided by carbon in the form of charcoal. Carbon, with sulfur, provides the fuel for the firework while potassium nitrate provides the oxygen to ignite the explosion. Saltpeter, or saltpetre, is also used in fertilisers and as an agent to preserve processed meats, although sodium nitrate is more common in modern times.

Answer: Copper

Copper isn't particularly associated with blue. You're more likely to think of the reddish-brown colour of the metal, but it is copper sulphate which is used to create the blue in firework displays. The colour is a result of the heat of a secondary explosion when the firework reaches the sky. Copper is primarily used for electrical wiring as it is such a good conductor of electricity.

Answer: Sodium

Although you probably associate sodium with being white, when it's heated to a high temperature it explodes in a burst of yellow, creating the effect you see in the (usually) dark sky. The colour bursts are called 'stars' and rely on a precise timing of the explosive to create the starburst we see. Sodium chloride is the form most of us are familiar with, being the scientific name for table salt.

Answer: Aluminium

Aluminium, or aluminum if you're from a different part of the world from me, is a light metal, used in aircraft and cars to reduce weight. In fireworks, it creates bright flashes of a silvery colour and is also responsible for the loud bangs made when they explode. Larger pieces of aluminium are used to create a trail of stars in some displays. Aluminium is easily found in nature with only oxygen and silicon being more common in the earth's crust.

Answer: Barium

Barium chloride, BaCl2, is a white, toxic salt which burns green when heated, creating the green flashes in the sky when added to fireworks. In industry, barium chloride is rarely used, due to its toxicity, but can be part of the steel production process.

Naturally, it's not this compound which is used in medical examinations, but barium sulfate. This is what you swallow in a 'barium meal' or is inserted via the rectum in a 'barium enema' during investigations into your digestive system.

Answer: Strontium

Davy discovered several elements, including strontium and the pure versions (i.e. not compounds) of calcium, sodium and potassium. Strontium carbonate is the most popular ingredient used in fireworks as it is cheap to produce and has no toxic effects on those working with it.

Antimony has been known about for thousands of years, although French scientist Nicolas Lémery studied it in detail in the early eighteenth century. Krypton was discovered in 1898 and rubidium, despite the name being related to red, is not used in fireworks. It was identified in 1861 by Kirchhoff and Bunsen, the latter still remembered for creating the burner bearing his name.

Answer: Magnesium

Many of us who studied science at school will remember our teachers demonstrating the brightness of the light created by burning magnesium. It can be used alone in fireworks or in combination with other salts to intensify the colours in the display. Magnesium is also an important element for human health, particularly in connection with the immune system.

Answer: Calcium

Calcium chloride is the element needed to create orange flashes in the sky, although other salts of calcium are also used. Calcium's name is derived from the Latin word for lime - calyx. Humphry Davy isolated calcium by electrolysis in 1808. For humans, it is one of the most vital elements, contributing to the strength of bones and teeth as well other functions such as the operation of the brain and heart.

Answer: Iron

Iron filings are very small pieces of iron ore, usually either haematite or magnetite. When heated, they create gold flashes to add an extra effect to the firework. Iron filings are magnetic, so are also used in some toys, when an external magnet is used to create hair and beards on an otherwise bare face.

Answer: Sparkler

I'm sure most of us can remember being allowed to hold a sparkler in our hand and wave it around to make patterns with the sparks it emitted. The parts which make up a sparkler are similar to those needed for the more sophisticated fireworks - an oxidiser to provide oxygen to make it burn, a fuel and metal elements to create the sparkling effect.

These are mixed with a binder to hold the mixture together while it burns slowly along the metal wire. Care needs to be taken when the sparkler burns out as the wire will still be red hot - putting it into a bucket of water or sand is a safe way to dispose of it.