The colors in a fireworks display are produced by the combustion of specific chemical compounds that emit light in different colors.

When a firework is launched, the combustion of the propellant mixture in the shell propels it into the sky. The shell then explodes, and the chemicals inside the shell start to burn and produce light. Different metal salts burn with different colors. For example:

• Strontium produces a red color

• Sodium produces a yellow color

• Copper produces blue and green colors

• Barium produces green and white colors

• Calcium produces a orange color

By using different combinations of these metal salts, along with other chemicals, manufacturers can create a variety of colors, effects, and patterns in the fireworks display. The timing of the combustion and the physical arrangement of the compounds within the shell also determine the final visual display.