How aerial shells work
A typical aerial shell uses a lift charge to launch the shell, a timed fuse to delay the burst, and stars packed around a bursting charge to produce the visible effect.
Industry Library
Fireworks Chemistry
A cleaned-up educational resource based on the uploaded paper, Fireworks: A Contribution of Chemistry to Celebrations and Festivities. It covers firework history, shell construction, oxidizers, metallic salts, color chemistry, and common aerial effects.
Oxidizers
Nitrates, chlorates, and perchlorates supply oxygen for combustion. Nitrates are common in lift charges; perchlorates are used widely because they are more stable than chlorates.
Fuel and heat
Sulfur and carbon act as reducing agents. Their reactions generate heat and expanding gas, creating the explosive force and energy needed for the effect.
Firework colors
| Color | Typical chemistry |
|---|---|
| Red | Strontium or lithium salts |
| Orange | Calcium salts |
| Yellow | Sodium salts |
| Green | Barium compounds with chlorine producer |
| Blue | Copper compounds with chlorine producer |
| Purple | Strontium plus copper compounds |
| Silver | Aluminum, titanium, or magnesium |
Effect shapes
Common effects include peony, willow, palm tree, and spider. Their shapes are created by how stars are packed, arranged, and timed inside the shell.
Source notes
The uploaded PDF includes a shell diagram on page 3, metallic salt color table on page 5, and aerial effect examples on page 6.