Summertime means Fourth of July festivities. Some communities celebrate with fireworks displays. But there’s also a fiery phenomenon people can hold right in their hands—shimmering sparklers. When lit, these sticks shoot out showers of colorful embers. “There is a lot of high-energy, high-temperature chemistry going on as that sparkler burns,” says John Conkling. He’s a retired chemist and former director of the American Pyrotechnics Association, an organization for members of the fireworks industry.
To make a sparkler, a wire—usually made of the element iron (Fe)—is dipped into a wet paste and allowed to dry. The paste is made of three things: a metal fuel that provides energy, an oxidizer that allows the fuel to burn, and a glue-like binder to hold everything together. Some sparklers also contain colorants, so they glimmer with different hues. The only thing you need is a flame to set the chemical reaction in motion. Read on to find out more.
Summer means Fourth of July parties. Crowds will gather to watch dazzling fireworks burst in the sky. But people can also hold a fiery wonder right in their hands. It’s a shimmering sparkler. When these sticks are lit, they produce showers of colorful sparks. “There is a lot of high-energy, high-temperature chemistry going on as that sparkler burns,” says John Conkling. He’s a retired chemist and former director of the American Pyrotechnics Association. That’s an organization for members of the fireworks industry.
To make a sparkler, a wire is dipped into a wet paste and allowed to dry. The wire is usually made of the element iron (Fe). The paste contains three things. A metal fuel provides energy. An oxidizer allows the fuel to burn. And a glue-like binder holds everything together. Some sparklers also contain colorants. That’s how they shimmer in different shades. All you need is a flame to start the chemical reaction. Read on to find out more.