Chemistry Adda

Class 10th
Term 2
Carbon and compound

How Do You Make Fireworks of Different Colors?

Two thousand years ago, a cook mixed three ingredients very common in any kitchen: potassium nitrate (food preservative), sulphur and charcoal. Mixed and and heated, they go off exploding on a huge bang. This is basically gunpowder.

If this mixture is put on a cane, pressure builds up giving rise to a bigger explosion. Originally, potassium nitrate was used. Potassium cations are responsible of a white color. If different salts are used instead, with different metals as cations, you get the different colors. For example, strontium salts give red colors. Iron compounds give gold-colored fireworks. Also, sodium gives yellow, barium gives green and copper gives blue.