How Fireworks Work

Fireworks are a spectacular mix of chemistry and art. Inside each firework shell is a carefully arranged mixture of chemicals. When the shell explodes high in the sky, the chemicals burn and create dazzling colors and patterns. Different chemicals produce different colors.

Inside a Firework

A firework has several parts. A lifting charge at the bottom launches the shell into the air. A fuse times the explosion to go off at the right height. Inside the shell are small pellets called stars. Each star contains chemicals that burn with bright colors. The arrangement of stars determines the pattern you see.

Where Colors Come From

Different chemical elements produce different colors when they burn. Strontium compounds make red. Barium compounds make green. Copper compounds make blue. Sodium makes yellow. Magnesium and aluminum make white sparks. By mixing these chemicals, firework makers can create almost any color.

Fun Facts

• Fireworks were invented in China over 2,000 years ago.
• Blue is the hardest firework color to make because the copper compounds needed are unstable at high temperatures.
• Some fireworks reach heights of over 1,000 feet before exploding.

Did You Know?

The largest firework shell ever launched was over 5 feet wide and weighed nearly 3,000 pounds. It was launched in Japan in 2023 and created an explosion nearly half a mile across!