An Internet WebQuest
THE CHEMISTRY OF FIREWORKS
Kaboom! Oooh!
Aahh! The golden sparkles explode and float down the
darkened sky, thrilling everyone watching below. Every Fourth of July, millions
of Americans go to local parks to watch exciting fireworks presentations.
Fireworks have been a familiar part of celebrations for centuries. For most of
that time, the designing of fireworks was a craft. Only recently have people
begun to try and understand the science involved in creating the spectacular
fireworks displays we all enjoy. What are the component parts of fireworks?
What chemical compounds cause fireworks to explode? What chemical compounds are
responsible for the colors of fireworks? In this WebQuest
you will explore the chemistry of fireworks and answer some of these questions.
Your job in this WebQuest
is to discover the component parts of fireworks, and to identify the chemical
compounds that are responsible for the brilliant colors that light up the sky
as fireworks explode. You will explore the history of fireworks and find out
when the first fireworks were invented. You will learn about firework design
and how fireworks are built. You will also find out what chemical compounds are
responsible for the colors seen in fireworks. Finally, you will answer a set of
questions about fireworks to demonstrate what you have learned about the
chemistry of fireworks.
Look at the web sites given here to find the
information that will enable you to answer questions about the chemistry of
fireworks.
1 class period for research and answering the
set of questions
Read through the following set of questions
before you begin your Internet research. As you explore each site, look for
answers to the questions. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper. Please make sure your answers are thorough and in complete sentences. Expect to write at least a paragraph for each question. If you have to share a computer, you should still do your own answers to the questions. Pass in by the end of the period.
Questions about the Chemistry of
Fireworks
1. What exactly is a
firework?
2. Where and when were the
first fireworks invented?
3. Who were the first
Europeans to master fireworks?
4. What type of simple
chemical reaction occurs in fireworks?
5. What are the components
of black powder? What are the ratios of these components?
6. What three processes
cause fireworks to emit light?
7. What types of elements
are responsible for the colors of fireworks?
8. What is responsible for
the whistling sound that often accompanies fireworks?
9. What are the component
parts of modern fireworks? What does each part do?
10. Create a table that
lists the chemical compounds that create the following colors of fireworks:
blue, turquoise, yellow, pink, red, brilliant red, green, bright green, purple,
white. Include both the chemical formulas and the common names of compounds in
your table.
In the process of completing this WebQuest, you’ve become informed about the chemistry behind
fireworks, the chemical compounds that are responsible for the brilliant colors
seen in fireworks, and about the component parts of modern fireworks. You have
also learned a little about the history of fireworks. You have developed
research skills as you explored the web sites given, and identified the
relevant information to answer the set of questions above. Did you know that
certain chemical compounds produced colors when they are burned? Were you
surprised to discover how complex modern fireworks are? Can you see why
fireworks can be dangerous for those who don’t understand how they work?