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CHEM 1010-042 The Chemistry of Fireworks

A firework is an incendiary device or material that can be used for signaling or entertainment. There are chemicals located in the nose of the rocket that explode, producing the colors seen. Fireworks were originally created for the purpose of entertainment and today they are still widely used in celebration to mark special occasions. The thrill and excitement generated by fireworks, brightening the night sky and immersing it with vivid displays of color and technicality, makes them a crowd pleaser.

Behind all the excitement of fireworks, chemistry plays an important role in creating the vivid colors we witness lighting up the sky. The actual chemical reactions that take place in the explosions require the use of oxidizers, reducing agents and binders. The additions of varying metal chlorides add the colors.

The ability of producing colored light from the principles of fireworks have allowed this technology to be applied for both industrial and military uses. Fireworks are now used for flares and smokescreens in modern society.

The production of light in fireworks, rely on basic chemical principles such as redox reactions, combustion and the excitement of electrons in metal ions when heated. Redox reactions are chemical reactions in which both oxidation and reduction take place. Oxidation is a process

where oxygen is gained, or hydrogen lost and reduction is where oxygen is lost and hydrogen is gained. In order for the reactions to take place in a firework, oxidizers such as nitrates produce the oxygen to burn and reducers such as sulfur reduce the oxygen into hot gases.

With any explosive device, combustion occurs. Combustion is a process of rapid oxidation of a substance with simultaneous release of heat and sometimes light. This is important in fireworks because of the redox reactions that occur. During combustion of fireworks some undesirable gases can be produced such as sulfur dioxide, which contributes to acid rain and air pollution. Fireworks require chemical reactions to create the vivid colors that are emitted. There are three essential chemical items needed to allow the reactions to occur. They are an oxidizer, to produce oxygen needed to let the firework burn, reducing agents to burn the oxygen emitted to produce hot gases which glow (Heat causes a substance to become hot and glow) and binders that hold the mixture in a lump.

Oxidizers The common oxidizers are nitrates, chlorates or perchlorates. They are necessary because they produce the oxygen to burn the mixture. Nitrates are composed of a metal ion and a nitrate ion and in a reaction release one third of their oxygen. Chlorates are composed of a metal ion and a chlorate ion and release all of their oxygen, causing a more speedy reaction. Chlorates are an example of complete combustion in which all the oxygen is burnt and the maximum quantity of heat energy is released. This results in a very explosive chemical reaction and caution is required.

Reducing Agents Reducing agents work by burning the oxygen that the oxidizers release, producing hot gases. Two common reducing agents are sulfur and charcoal. The two of these react with oxygen to form sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide respectively. Normally pyrotechnics will combine both of these reducers together resulting in a slower reaction. Therefore reducing agents are used to control the speed of reaction. To speed the reaction, metals are often added, since metal ions are highly reactive because they can generate higher temperatures and produce brighter light.

Temperature The finer a powder is, the faster a reaction will occur. For example wheat will burn slowly, whereas wheat powder floating in air will explode.

Collision Theory

To slow a reaction down, a thick, compacted substitute such as corn meal can be used because it is a slow burning organic compound like wheat. By using certain quantities of corn meal and metal ions, it is possible to regulate the speed of reaction because they burn at different speeds and generate different temperatures.

Binders

Binders simply hold the mixture into a nice lump. To bind the lump, either dextrin damped by water or a shellac compound damped by alcohol are used.

The Colors

The way that metal ions react when exposed to heat is the principle behind color production. Each metal ion produces a specific color. The color is produced when the electrons in the metal ions are "excited", causing them to "jump" to a different energy shell. It is when the electrons return to "ground state" that they emit the light. Components.

The components of a modern firework include the following: a launch tube, lift charge, fuse, black powder, break, stars and a time delay fuse. In a multi-break firework, stars are contained in separate cardboard containers within the shell. Each container has its own bursting charge, which lights up and 'throws' the stars outward. In order to spread out the stars great distances, the container must burst open with a great amount of force. As the firework shoots through the air the fuse continues to burn. When the shell is close to its apex, the fuse should have burnt low enough to ignite the black powder. Stars are the cargo that is carried by the aerial firework. It is about the size of your fist and when ignited create the flashes of color and light. The color emitted depends on the mixture of perchlorates and metal ions in the star. Black Powder is similar to gunpowder and the formula is 75% potassium nitrate, 15% charcoal and 10% sulfur.

Most fireworks are launched from rows of steel tubes that are secured into troughs of sand, the launching tubes tend to be three times longer than the height of the firework, but similar in diameter. The snug fit is to allow the pressure created in the tube to propel the firework into the

air. Today's fireworks use electric circuits to activate the launching process for obvious safety. With the push of a button, an electric current rushes through the wire and creates a spark at the point of contact. The main fuse lights two secondary fuses. The first being a fast acting side fuse that ignites the lift charge and the second being a time delay fuse that ignites the black powder and star. When gunpowder burns in the open air, the heat and gas generated quickly dissipates. By adding gunpowder to the base of the firework in a small compartment, it allows the heat and gas trapped to thrust the firework upward allowing a height of up to 300 yards to be reached.

Social Impact.

The social significance of fireworks in today's society is to provide a means of nighttime entertainment. In addition, the principles of fireworks and pyrotechnics have been applied for uses within industry, search and rescue and for warfare. From its humble beginnings as firecrackers, the development of this technology by the Chinese, Europeans and Arabians has seen more spectacular colors and range of fireworks produced

A major development during the middle ages saw the explosive properties of fireworks used in warfare and ballistics. The Chinese first used the firework to create a gunpowder-based weapon against Mongol invaders. During the start of the industrial revolution, the light-emitting concept of the firework was applied for industrial applications and even in World War II it was used to light the battlefield.

The craft of firework making first existed in Ancient China before spreading to Europe. The Chinese had been making war rockets and explosives as early as the 6th century. The art of using these new deadly weapons spread to Arabia in the 7th century and was given the name "Chinese Arrows". China claims that they first made gunpowder during the Sung Dynasty (960-1279AD) and used their war rockets against Mongol invaders in 1279AD. Historians believe that it was the Mongols who probably introduced Chinese gunpowder to Europe in about 1241AD.

Industrial Applications Thermite that is made from granulated aluminum is used extensively in welding. Flares that are similar to those used by the military are placed along highways to alert motorists of construction or bad road conditions. Aircraft as a visual means of communication also use flares during emergencies.

Military applications Modern day military use pyrotechnics as an excellent means of signaling during the night. Modified pistols with a large barrel are used to fire colored 'star' shells. When they explode they emit light, just like fireworks. The flares are used as a means of signaling. Red is a universal color for danger, while other combinations of green and white flares have various meanings according to standard codes. During the night, signal flares are used to illuminate the ground for landing operations of men and equipment. During both World War's pyrotechnics were mixed with chemicals such as chlorosulphonic acid, hexachloroethane, or titanium tetrachloride, which reacted with the water vapor in the air to produce an opaque cloud. The thick opaque cloud was a 'smoke screen' used to protect military forces from the sight of their enemy.

Conclusion. Apart from the entertainment value, fireworks due to their chemical nature are dangerous. Fireworks are explosive devices and should be treated with caution because of their ability to inflict injury and death. People through ignorance and misuse have been responsible for the cause of injury and death from the use of fireworks. The use of fireworks commonly affects humans and pets. There are many dangers associated with the use of fireworks without training or precautions. They include the misappropriate usage, the handling of fireworks by children and faulty fireworks exploding prematurely. While fireworks are truly fascinating to watch, they are very dangerous because of their explosive nature and the high level of noise emitted. Despite all the dangers associated with fireworks, they should remain in use within our society for their primary purpose of entertainment.

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