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.
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Your job in this WebQuest is to discover the component
parts of fireworks, and to identify the chemical compounds
that are responsible for the brilliant colors that light up
the sky as fireworks explode. You will explore the history
of fireworks and find out when the first fireworks were
invented. You will learn about firework design and how
fireworks are built. You will also find out what chemical
compounds are responsible for the colors seen in fireworks.
Finally, you will answer a set of questions about fireworks
to demonstrate what you have learned about the chemistry of
fireworks.
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Look at the web sites given here to find the information
that will enable you to answer questions about the chemistry
of fireworks.
Where did fireworks begin?
- Professional
Colors. Visit this site to learn how professionals
create the colors that appear during the vibrant displays
of fireworks.
- Lights
and Colours. Go to this site to see what
chemicals create the colors of firesworks. Before the
19th 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?
- How
Fireworks are Made. At this site you can find out
what chemical compounds create the colors of modern
fireworks.
- NOVA
Online: Kaboom! 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. Visit this site to learn
more about the chemical reactions in fireworks. Find out
what two types of binders are used in fireworks today.
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1 class period for research and answering the set of
questions
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Read through the following set of questions before you
begin your Internet research. As you explore each site, look
for answers to the questions.
Questions about the Chemistry of
Fireworks
- What exactly is a firework?
- Where and when were the first fireworks invented?
- Who were the first Europeans to master fireworks?
- What type of simple chemical reaction occurs in
fireworks?
- What are the components of black powder? What are the
ratios of these components?
- What three processes cause fireworks to emit light?
- What types of elements are responsible for the colors
of fireworks?
- What is responsible for the whistling sound that often
accompanies fireworks?
- What are the component parts of modern fireworks? What
does each part do?
- 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.
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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?
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