Colorful Fire in History
As my partner I and were finishing up the Style Flame Test project, the many colorful flames reminded us of fireworks. Fireworks date back all the way to ancient Chinese societies, were the purpose and use of fireworks differ from today. With the discovery of gunpowder by the Han Dynasty, but it wasn't until the Song Dynasty in the 11th century that created fireworks similar to those used today.
Between 600 and 900 A.D., Chinese alchemists had accidentally created an early form of gunpowder by mixing. The Chinese later began placing gunpowder into hollow bamboo shoots, then throwing them into an open flame. The later began to discover and develop other effective ways to use gunpowder such as in bombs and they also attached firecrackers to arrows to use as lethal weapons. They continue to advance this by firing the explosive into the air and guiding them towards the enemy, thus lead to the creation of the first rockets.
Colors were limited, and the only colors that were produced by fireworks was an orange flash from the gunpowder, and white sparks from metal salt powders. In Italy in the 1830s, scientific advancements were made in chemistry that opened up a new wide range of colors. Allowing them,”[...]to create reds, greens, blues, and yellows by adding both a metallic salt (strontium=red, barium=green, copper=blue, sodium=yellow) and a chlorinated powder to the firework composition”(History of fireworks). Thanks to this advancement, fireworks were given new color and life and .leading to the creation of firework colors that are still being used to this day.
Today, fireworks achieve their color by mixing with certain metal chemical salts, similar to our project as the flames color depended on the salts we used. “When metal salts are ignited, they release energy in the form of light”(How do fireworks get their colors). Giving the world an amazing and enjoyable light shows that are meant to entertain and to celebrate. Fireworks are a popular attraction that is still being used widely today and in many different cultures.
Work cited
"Fireworks’ Vibrant History." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 01 July 2011. Web. 07 Mar. 2015. <http://www.history.com/news/fireworks-vibrant-history>.
"History of Fireworks :: PyroUniverse.com." History of Fireworks :: PyroUniverse.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Mar. 2015. <http://www.pyrouniverse.com/history.htm>.
"How Do Fireworks Get Their Colors? | EarthSky.org." EarthSky. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Mar. 2015. <http://earthsky.org/human- world/how-do-fireworks-get-their-vibrant-colors>.