Fireworks are basically aerial bombs — bundles of explosive charges, made up primarily of black powder, propelled into the night sky which contain show-burning fuses that are carefully calculated to burn sufficiently long enough to then detonate at a suitable altitude, in much the same way as early cannon shells, when fired, were fused to explode after having had time to reach their objective, be it ships, fortresses, or formations of infantry or cavalry. But black powder explosions are generally white or orange. So have you ever wondered how they make all those beautiful colors seen in the night sky during fireworks displays?
Answer — CHEMISTRY!! Certain metal salts such as copper, sodium, strontium, and calcium, when burned, create different colors and contribute to the impressiveness of the display.
Feel free to use this handy reference guide when watching the displays in your area this weekend.
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