Fireworks-+Erin+and+Rosie

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=History=

Evidence of the first firework was said to be in China, around 2,000 years ago. The story goes that a Chinese cook mixed charcoal, sulphur, and saltpeter. This mixture was then put into a bamboo tube, and when burned, it exploded. Once the Chinese realized what they had created, over the years they perfected the recipe. They named this balck powder "huo yao" (fire chemical). They found out that by adding more saltpeter, it would burn faster, and also creating a more powerful explosion. After having invented the first basic firecraker, firecrackers played an important role in weddings and other celebrations. The Chinese believed that if the bang was loud enough, it would scare away evil spirits. By the 10th century, the Chinese were using this for military purposes. Before the Soon after, the idea about the firecracker started to spread west. It is believed that Marco Polo chared this idea when he was in the Middle East. From then, European Crusaders brought it to England. As the invention spread to Italy, the Italians were belived to be the first to come up with aerial shells. After the Chinese invented the first firework, the only colors that were able to be produced was yellow and oranges (using coal and charcoal). It wasn't until the 19th century that pyrotechnicians had the knowledge abd ability to produce other colors. ==

= = = = = = = = =Energy= Fireworks produce three kinds of energy: light, sound, and heat. The loud boom is a result of energy rapidly being released into the air, causing the air to expand faster than the speed of sound. Because the gunpowder is confined, pressure builds up inside the tube. The loud sound occurs when the all the gas inside the tube is realsed. As the fireworks heats up and the chemical burning reactions start to happen, they vaporize the gunpowder and the other color agents. As the firework explodes, the hot gas atoms collide with each other. These collisions cause the electrons to be pushed to higher energy levels (higher orbitals). After a short period of time, the electrons jump back to the lowest energy level, called the ground state. At this point the electrons must release the extra energy. This extra energy is the light of the firework. Each color is formed by combing differnt substances that burn a certain color when burned. The differnt colors emitted is displayed by the emission line spectrum.

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=Components of a Firework=

Fireworks are made up of 5 elements: an oxidizing agent, reducing agent, coloring agent, regulators and binders. The oxidizing agent is usually made up of nitrates, chlorates and perchlorates and are used to produce oxygen for burning the mixture. Depending on the agent you use the chemical will cause a different reaction. Nitrates, which are the most commonly used, have one metal ion and one nitrate ion. Nitrates give up only 1/3 of the oxygen they carry, causing a smaller explosion than a chlorate which uses all of its oxygen. A chlorate, which is made up of one chlorate ion and one metal ion can cause a more powerful reaction, however they are very explosive and hazardous. the perchlorates also have more oxygen in them but are not as likely as chlorates to explode.Fireworks with nitrate as their oxidizing agent produce this equation:
 * 2XClO3 → 2XCl + 3O2

While fireworks with chlorate have a equation similar to this:
 * XClO4 → XCl + 2O

The reducing agent are meant to take the oxygen produced by the oxidizing agents and make hot gases. Sulfur and charcoal are often used as reducing agents and once they react with the oxygen become Sulfur Dioxide and Carbon Dioxide respectively. The reducing agents can also be combined to speed or slow the reaction. The regulators are also used to this effect. Regulators such as metals and cornmeal are added to speed up the reaction, with finer metals causing a faster reaction, and slow down the reaction when cornmeal is added. Binders are then used to hold everything in the firework together. they can then be rolled and cut or put into a paper tube and pushed out with a dowel, with the fireworks being shaped as the come out. The most commonly used binder is dextrin which is a starch that is good for holding things together. Paron is also sometimes used but only in green and red fireworks as it enhances their color. The fourth element is the coloring agent which is always a metal and emits photons which are seen to the human eye as light. Each metal has different photons with a different wavelengths upon which the coloring of the firework depends. The coloring occurs when the solid particles are heated to extremely high temperatures, which causes a release of excess energy in the form of light. As the temperatures become higher the the wavelength shortens and tends towards the blue end of the color spectrum, where as the color red is reached at lower temperatures with a longer wavelength. With each color a different metal is used: Each substance burned has a certain wavelngth. Depending on the wave length, a differnt color is emitted.

=Importance=

One culture that uses fireworks as a part of their important ceremonies is the Chinese. They have a culture that has many traditions rooted in fireworks. The Chinese believe that the dragon brings rain for their crop growing season, but the dragon must be woken from its slumber to do so. This belief led to Chinese New Years where they create mass amounts of noise pollution using fireworks in attempt to wake the sleeping dragon. Another belief is that the noise of the fireworks will ward off evil spirits, so there will be none in the coming year. Fireworks are also used in all different cultures all around the world as a celebratory symbol, the most common example being the U.S. 4th of July celebration. All around the country fireworks are set off in remembrance and appreciation of our country's independence. Fireworks provide people with a physical way to carry on their old traditions.

=Firework Safety=

Below is a link to a list of firework regulations [|firework regulations]

=Sources=


 * Heckert, Paul A. "How Fireworks Produce Sounds and Colors: The Science, Physics, and Chemistry Behind Fireworks Displays." //Physics//. Web. June 2010. [].
 * Conkling, John A. "Chemical of the Week -- Fireworks!" //Science Is Fun in the Lab of Shakhashiri//. Web. June 2010. [].
 * "The Chemistry of Fireworks." //Oracle ThinkQuest Library//. Web. 03 June 2010. [].
 * Gondhia, Reema. "The Chemistry of Fireworks." //Wiki//. Web. June 2010. [].
 * Gondhia, Reema. "The Chemistry of Fireworks." //Wiki//. Web. 03 June 2010. [].
 * "The Importance Of Cantonese New Year Fireworks | E-Book Store." //E-books | Pets| Home | Family | Marriage | Education | Resume | Spirituality | Cooking Tips | Health//. Web. 02 June 2010. [].