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Eco-Friendly Fireworks
by Randi Lynn Mrvos

KA BOOM! Fireworks burst and dazzle the eye! Reds, blues and greens light up the sky. Can the explosions get any better? Scientists think so. But researchers don't want to make richer reds or deeper blues. They want to make fireworks "greener", that is, more environmentally friendly.

Sounds and Shapes
Look up to the sky. Many fireworks are named after living things. Chrysanthemums burst from the center and trail outward. Firefly fireworks flicker like lightening bugs. Weeping willows droop like tree branches. Serpents spin in the sky and give off silver, gold, or white light.

Cover your ears—fireworks explode with a bang. Bangs are created with highly explosive flash powders. A cannonade is a rapid series of fast explosions: bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang. Loud booms are called reports or salutes. Sometimes, a salute signals the show is over with a loud, single BOOM.

Risky Business
In many ways, the making of fireworks hasn't changed much for hundreds of years. Though machines make the containers or paper tubes that hold the powders, even today, many of the largest fireworks are mostly made by hand. Relatively little machinery is used. Even the littlest spark from a machine may ignite explosive material. Static electricity is also dangerous. So people don't comb their hair or wear fabrics that produce static electricity when they're working on fireworks.

Fireworks consist of a fuel (or fuels) to burn, an oxidizer to supply oxygen, and
chemicals to provide color, spark, or sound effect. Other active parts of a firework
include mixtures that propel the firework into the air. Surprisingly, many chemicals work
double duty. Some oxidizers also provide the main color agent. Fuels may also produce
the sparkle effect.

What goes up, must come down. When fireworks are shot off, some nasty materials
like barium and carbon monoxide may be released. Smoke lingers in the air. Some of
the stabilizers, propellants, and coloring agents are toxic. These products are unhealthy
to humans and to the environment.

Make 'em Green
To make fireworks environmentally friendlier, scientists replace toxic chemicals with nitrogen-rich chemicals. Nitrogen is not toxic and makes up most of the air that you breathe.

When nitrogen-rich materials are used, they can serve as both the fuel and the oxidizer. They can sometimes be used to make propellant, as well. Nitrogen-rich material can be made to burn cleanly. There's less smoke and the by-products are often more free of toxins.

But nitrogen-rich fireworks are not completely "green" when they're mixed with toxic metals like cooper and barium. Copper makes blues. Currently, barium is the only suitable metal that can make green. One alternative is to combine nitrogen-rich materials with non-toxic metals. Though this mixture won't make blues and greens, it can produce reds, oranges, violets, purples and pinks.

Many nitrogen-rich fireworks are already used in firework displays at rock concerts. They're also used at circuses and indoor theatrical and sporting events. But their higher price keeps them from being used in traditional fireworks shows. As the chemistry behind pyrotechnic shows changes, fireworks will continue to get safer and more affordable. Then eyes to the sky. Eco-friendly fireworks will light up the night.

Fireworks Show Safety:

Did you know?—Fireworks were accidentally discovered more than 2,000 years ago. The Chinese found that when mixing saltpeter, sulfur and charcoal and then lighting the combination, bright flames were produced.

Resources:
Appenbrink, Kristin. "Fireworks 101." Real Simple 9, i.7 (July 2008): p46.

Brenner, Martha. Fireworks Tonight! NY: Hastings House Publishers, Inc., 1983.

Delsite, Alison. "(Fire) workin' for a living." Boys' Life 93, i.7 (July 2003): p14.

"Eco-friendly fireworks fueled by nitrogen." USA Today Magazine 136, i.2757 (June
2008): p15.

"Environmentally friendly fireworks." Laboratory Equipment 44, i.13 (April 2008P: p51.

Hodle, Sharon. "Whiz…BANH…BOOM!!! Boys' Life 89, i.7 (July 1999): p26.

Kosanke, Ken, Publisher, Journal of Pyrotechnics, email communication with author, 1/08/09.

Kuklin, Susan. Fireworks: The Science, the Art, and the Magic. NY: Hyperion Books for Children, 1996.

Medlin, Kurt, Pyrotechnics Guild International Vice President and President of The Fireworks Foundation, email communication with author, 1/3/09.

Merrick, Patrick. Fourth of July Fireworks. MN: The Child's World, Inc., 2000.

Internet:
http://earthfirst.com/tag/green-fireworks/
http://environment.about.com/od/healthenvironment/a/toxicfireworks.htm www.jsonline.com/news/29412309.html
www.livescience.com/environment/080630-greener-fireworks.html
http://www.pgi.org/
http://www.pyrocreations.com/pyrotechnic_chemical_list
www.sciencecentric.com/news/article.php?q=08070101

Photo: Courtesy Wikipedia

Randi is a columnist for The Creativity Connection, an editor for the educational website www.Viatouch.com , and a former consultant for Pearson Digital Learning. She writes for children's, parenting, and writers' publications. Her publishing credits include Byline, Mothering, The Christian Science Monitor, Highlights for Children, Know, Nature Friend, and Learning through History Magazine.