Abstract
This paper addresses fire’s evolution from simply being a source of light and heat to its complex uses in science and entertainment. Fire’s past uses through fireworks in China and its modern uses through pyrotechnic displays are discussed. The invention of colored fire and its components are explored. The elements of a fire and chemical fires are also examined.
Keywords: Colored, Fire, Fireworks, Pyrotechnics
The History of Pyrotechnics and Colored Fire
Fire is one of the most important assets of our history and modern lives, and its discovery provided a pathway to the beginning of civilization. Fire offers a means of heat, safety, cooking, and entertainment, while also being a gateway to death and destruction. Once only a source of warmth and light, fire has evolved over time to also be used in elaborate displays during celebrations and festivities as well as the scientific field in studying chemistry. The process of making a fire and the ingredients that compose fires have also changed. The invention of chemically colored fires has greatly benefitted the entertainment industry through its uses in pyrotechnics and fireworks. One question raised in regard to the production of fireworks is how do the different chemicals that create color in fires affect its burning time? This paper reviews the invention and evolution of fireworks, the use of colored fire in pyrotechnics, and the elements of a fire to answer this question.
Background Information
Fires have been used for entertainment purposes for hundreds of years. The earliest fireworks were first invented in early China to ward off evil spirits. Ever since then, the use of fireworks has expanded all over the globe and has become an integral part of certain celebratory traditions and festivities. Today, fireworks are devices used pyrotechnics, the science of producing heat, light, gas, and sound effects through self-sustained and contained exothermic chemical reactions. Pyrotechnics are used by stage productions, fire performers, and holiday displays worldwide. Fireworks have been integrated into many American celebrations, including the Fourth of July, sports games, and weddings, to name a few. Through pyrotechnics, many new devices and processes have been created to liven up performances, one of them including colored fire.
Colored fire is a fairly modern practice that is used mainly in fireworks. The first fireworks were composed of an early form of gunpowder, which contained potassium nitrate, charcoal, sulfur, and other ingredients. These components gave the firework a natural white and yellow color. However, modern fireworks contain a variety different of chemicals that give the fire a brilliant color that is unnatural for regular gunpowder fires. These chemicals also help to stabilize and oxidize other ingredients in the firework. The color that is perceived in fireworks and colored fire can be due to the temperature of the flame but can also be caused by the differing emission spectrums of the components of the fire.
All fires need three key components to ignite—oxygen, heat, and fuel, which are referred to the fire triangle. In primitive fires, the fuel was wood or other shrubbery, the heat was created by friction between the wood and another source, and the oxygen came from the air. Chemical fires also fulfill the three components of fire. Oxygen can be obtained either from the surrounding air or from the result of two substances releasing oxygen in a chemical reaction. Heat ¬¬can be added either from an outside source, such as a match or a lighter or as a form of energy that is released in an exothermic reaction. Fuel can be sourced to one of the reactants in a chemical reaction, such as alcohol or methanol. The colors of the fires are different, however, due to either the temperature or incandescence of the flame or because of the different chemical compositions of the fuel and their effects on the energy level of the photons that are emitted from the light of the fire. The different chemicals in colored fire may affect its behavior, including heat, light, and burning time.
Difference substances that make up a particular fire can cause different heat and brightness levels and differences in how long the fire burns. If the amount of fuel, oxygen levels, and surrounding, temperature, humidity, and wind were consistent, the leading causes of differences in burning time would be an increase or decrease in oxygen, heat, or surface area of the fuel due to the chemical reaction between fuel sources(s). For example, if the fuel source, like paper, can be quickly burned, the fire would go out faster. If the exothermic reaction produces a lot of heat, the fire might burn longer. The chemical composition and reaction of the fuel sources affects the fire triangle, which in turn affects the fire’s burning time.
Conclusion
Background information and the chemistry of fire are needed to understand the question of how the components of a colored fire affect its burning time. The use of fire has transformed from its primitive use of heat and light to its modern use in chemistry and entertainment. The new uses of fire have greatly impacted the world, both positively and negatively. From its integration into pyrotechnics through the invention of fireworks to the addition of chemicals to make brilliant colors, fire has evolved into a modern-day asset. As it continues to evolve along with technology, fire can continue to be researched and used in more ways than ever thought to further benefit society.