Mike Tockstein, a pyrotechnician and electrical engineer based in California, explains what happens in the fireworks to really explode them from a chromatic point of view.
The recipe for building fireworks is about the same as for a millennium. All you need is a combination of fuel, oxidizer to burn fuel, chemicals that produce color (such as strontium, aluminum or copper) and a binder that stick everything.
Every shell to make firework remains virtually the same, the thing that adds variety and makes every single light show is the beautiful colors that splash the black canvas of the sky.
But what gives fireworks their amazing colors? If you're curious to know what really makes your July 4 light show, the pyrotechnician and electrical engineer Mike Tockstein – the guy behind Pyrotechnic Innovations – gives up the secret. Interview with Business Insider Tockstein explains the science of fireworks, revealing the trick that gives color to your celebration of Independence Day.
The Seven Colors of Fireworks: How Do We Get Them?
As you might expect, each of the colors that illuminate the sky this July 4th is custom-made from a specific chemical – and the matches can be a little surprising in some cases.
For example, yellow fireworks made with white salt (sodium), while yellow strontium actually burns in a red hue and is therefore used in red pyrotechnic shows, says Tockstein, who this year was in charge of the July 4th fireworks show at Los Angeles C oliseum.
Salt makes your yellow fireworks, and other strange chemicals that illuminate the sky on July 4th https://t.co/wbMy77HTiN
Green fireworks are usually made of barium nitrate, a poisonous chemical that is also used to make grenades.
Meanwhile, the famous golden chandeliers owe their scintillating carbon color, one of the oldest ingredients used to make fireworks, which have apparently existed for a very long time.
Ezra Shaw
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After The Chemistry of Fireworks fireworks allegedly accidentally discovered 2000 years ago when a Chinese cook was mixing a common kitchen.
The & # 39; unicorn & # 39; fireworks
It turns out that blue fireworks are the most difficult to create because "there is a limit of physics and of chemistry that prevents explains Tockstein, who notes that the blue color of fireworks comes from copper.
"Blue is still a kind of unicorn making fireworks. The temperature of the flame must be very precise, otherwise you lose the color. "
This might convince you to appreciate even more the blue fireworks, now that you know that there is quite an art behind the spectacular light show that you enjoy this fourth of July
The same copper that goes into the blue fireworks can be combined with the red burning strontium to produce purple fireworks.Other creative combinations lead to even more colors unique, according to your imagination – seriously, the sky is the limit (pun intended).
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The "most artistic side of the pyro" involves special effects, such as the so-called "ghost", in which the colors seem to move and dance.This is achieved by superimposing several colors on each other within the same fireworks, rev Tockstein
Overall, a big fireworks like the one that can be expected at the Los Angeles Coliseum tonight takes several days. According to the expert in pyrotechnics, one must "work well over 10,000 pounds of equipment".
Whatever colors illuminate your sky tonight, be happy on July 4th!
