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Colours of Firework

The document outlines an experiment to test different chemicals that create various colors in fireworks through flame tests. It describes the three essential ingredients in fireworks: a fuel, potassium nitrate for oxygen, and a chemical that produces color. Instructions for performing the flame test with specific metal compounds and their corresponding flame colors are provided, along with safety and equipment notes.

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17 views2 pages

Colours of Firework

The document outlines an experiment to test different chemicals that create various colors in fireworks through flame tests. It describes the three essential ingredients in fireworks: a fuel, potassium nitrate for oxygen, and a chemical that produces color. Instructions for performing the flame test with specific metal compounds and their corresponding flame colors are provided, along with safety and equipment notes.

Uploaded by

pnphrp
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The colour of fireworks

You are going to test some chemicals to find out how the different colours in fireworks are
made.

Fireworks contain three ‘ingredients’:

1. A chemical which will burn, called a fuel.

2. Another chemical that will give oxygen to help the burning, called potassium nitrate.

3. A chemical that gives a bright colour when it burns.

Task 1 - choosing the colour

You will try putting some different metal compounds


into a flame. Read the instructions on how to do a flame
test.

Watch the coloured flames that you get with the


different chemicals.

© Darcie Tanner 2006 flic.kr/p/cMrks

Instructions - how to do a flame test with a wooden splint

(The wooden splints have been soaked overnight in distilled water.)

1. First, put on safety specs and take a damp splint.

2. Dip it into the powder you are testing, move the splint
through the flame. (Do not hold the sample in the flame as
this would cause the splint to catch fire).

3. Notice what colour you see (if any). Compare it to the chart
below. Throw the splint away.

Metal Flame colour


calcium orange-red
copper blue-green
Sodium orange
potassium violet
zinc greenish-white

© Tess Watson 2007 flic.kr/p/xx8Uo

© www.teachitscience.co.uk 2016 24697 Page 1 of 2


Resource title

Teaching notes

NB: Carry out a risk assessment before doing this activity.

The Royal Society of Chemistry has some excellent video demonstrations of fireworks and other
resources:
www.rsc.org/learn-chemistry/resource/res00001145/chemistry-of-
fireworks?cmpid=CMP00002195#!cmpid=CMP00002193

Technician notes

Equipment per group:


• heatproof mat
• Bunsen burner
• x10 wooden splints soaked in distilled water overnight
• a range of metal salt powders for flame tests.

© www.teachitscience.co.uk 2016 24697 Page 2 of 2

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