The Chemistry Behind Firework Colors

Creating firework colors is a complex endeavor, requiring considerable art and application of physical science. Excluding propellants or special effects, the points of light ejected from fireworks, termed stars, generally require an oxygen-producer, fuel, binder (to keep everything where it needs to be), and color producer. There are two main mechanisms of color production in fireworks, incandescence, and luminescence. Incandescence Incandescence is light produced from heat. Heat causes a substance to become hot and glow, initially emitting infrared, then red, orange, yellow, and white light as it becomes increasingly hotter. When the temperature of a firework is controlled, the glow of components, such as charcoal, can be manipulated to be the desired color (temperature) at the proper time. Metals, such as aluminum, magnesium, and titanium, burn very brightly and are useful for increasing the temperature of the firework. Luminescence Luminescence is light produced using energy sources other than heat. Sometimes luminescence is called cold light because it can occur at room temperature and cooler temperatures. To produce luminescence, energy is absorbed by an electron of an atom or molecule, causing it to become excited, but unstable. The energy is supplied by the heat of the burning firework. When the electron returns to a lower energy state the energy is released in the form of a photon (light). The energy of the photon determines its wavelength or color.​ In some cases, the salts needed to produce the desired color are unstable. Barium chloride (green) is unstable at room temperatures, so barium must be combined with a more stable compound (e.g., chlorinated rubber). In this case, the chlorine is released in the heat of the burning of the pyrotechnic composition, to then form barium chloride and produce the green color. Copper chloride (blue), on the other hand, is unstable at high temperatures, so the firework cannot get too hot, yet must be bright enough to be seen. Quality of Firework Ingredients Pure colors require pure ingredients. Even trace amounts of sodium impurities (yellow-orange) are sufficient to overpower or alter other colors. A careful formulation is required so that too much smoke or residue doesnt mask the color. With fireworks, as with other things, cost often relates to quality. The skill of the manufacturer and date the firework was produced greatly affect the final display (or lack thereof). Table of  Firework Colorants Color Compound Red strontium salts, lithium saltslithium carbonate, Li2CO3 = redstrontium carbonate, SrCO3 = bright red Orange calcium saltscalcium chloride, CaCl2calcium sulfate, CaSO4xH2O, where x = 0,2,3,5 Gold incandescence of iron (with carbon), charcoal, or lampblack Yellow sodium compoundssodium nitrate, NaNO3cryolite, Na3AlF6 Electric White white-hot metal, such as magnesium or aluminumbarium oxide, BaO Green barium compounds + chlorine producerbarium chloride, BaCl+ = bright green Blue copper compounds + chlorine producercopper acetoarsenite (Paris Green), Cu3As2O3Cu(C2H3O2)2 = bluecopper (I) chloride, CuCl = turquoise blue Purple mixture of strontium (red) and copper (blue) compounds Silver burning aluminum, titanium, or magnesium powder or flakes Sequence of Events Just packing colorant chemicals into an explosive charge would produce an unsatisfying firework! Theres a sequence of events leading to a beautiful, colorful display. Lighting the fuse ignites the lift charge, which propels the firework into the sky. The lift charge can be black powder or one of the modern propellants. This charge burns in a confined space, pushing itself upward as hot gas is forced through a narrow opening. The fuse continues to burn on a time delay to reach the interior of the shell. The shell is packed with stars that contain packets of metal salts and combustible material. When the fuse reaches the star, the firework is high above the crowd. The star blows apart, forming glowing colors through a combination of incandescent heat and emission luminescence.

Waking up too early is unhealthy Essay - 718 Words

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! You’re familiar with that sound, it’s the sound of you’re alarm clock. It’s really hard for kids to wake up to the sound isn’t it? It’s not even good for them either! Yet, kids, whose appetites for sleep are the biggest, have to wake up as early as 6:00 a.m.! It’s crazy how they, the school boards, set the system up. And bus drivers, who also have to wake up quite early, might be having problems waking up. Even if they don’t, someone behind them might be and that puts the whole bus at risk! Anyways, the point is that the decision made for the school arrival time was wrong and it needs to be changed on a large scale. This means in EVERY high school. Starting school too early is not only a nuisance†¦show more content†¦The time they use up is sleep time! This leads to sleep deprivation and causes the above stated affects that were stated by the chief of medicine in Chicago. Another fact or in this whole mess is a sleep inducing chemical called melatonin. This chemical is what tells your brain that its time to take a rest so it doesn’t go into over drive. More specifically, this chemical starts to go to work at around 10 P.M., and wears off at around 8 A.M. This means that there are still significant amounts of this chemical in a teens mind at 7 or even 6 o’clock in the morning. His, or her, whole morning is then reduced to a blur of events and their is no point in teaching them anything that early because many times they don’t even remembers it! Eventually, when they reach adulthood, this changes and it starts to merge into their evolved circadian clock, the internal sleeping mechanism that dictates sleeping patterns. Simply, it means they will be able to wake up earlier, and have to sleep less. The most important reason that teens need more sleep is sleep deprivation, again, but this time it’s with driving. 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San Miguel Corporation free essay sample

For generations, the Company has generated strong consumer loyalty through brands that are among the most formidable in the Philippine food and beverage industry – San Miguel Pale Pilsen, Ginebra, Monterey, Magnolia, and Purefoods. Flagship product, San Miguel Beer, holds an over 95% share of the Philippine beer market. In addition to its leadership in the Philippine food and beverage industry, San Miguel has established a significant presence overseas. The Company’s operations extend beyond its home base of the Philippines to China (including Hong Kong), Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Australia. Through strategic partnerships it has forged with major international companies, San Miguel has gained access to managerial expertise, international practices and advanced technology, thereby enhancing its performance and establishing itself as a world-class company. San Miguel’s partners are world leaders in their respective businesses. Kirin Brewery Co. , Ltd. is a major shareholder of San Miguel Brewery. The Company also has successful joint venture relationships with US-based Hormel Foods Corporation, Nihon Yamamura Glass and QTel, a telecommunications company in Qatar. In the Philippines, San Miguel’s corporate strategy is at aimed capitalizing on new growth markets through acquisitions and further enhancing its competitive position by improving synergies across existing operational lines. The company has significantly expanded its participation in both its core businesses of food, beverage and packaging, as well as heavy industries including power and other utilities, mining, energy, tollways and airports. Mission/Vision/Objectives of the Company Vision SMC’s fundamental and historical  philosophy— Proft with Honor The following are SMC’s objectives: * To be constantly aware of the aspirations of the people and of the nation, and to ensure that San Miguel continues to make a major contribution towards the achievement of these  aspirations. * To  manufacture,  distribute  and  sell  throughout  the  Philippines  food products, beverages, packaging products and animal feeds, being  ready at all times to add, modify or discontinue products in accordance with changes in the market. To diversify into fields, which will ensure optimum utilization  of management resources and a  substantial contribution to  corporate profits * To seek and develop export markets for new products as well as for those already being produced by the Corporation. * To generate a return on funds employed sufficient to ensure an adequate rate of  growth  for  the  Corporation,  and  to  provide  sati sfactory  returns  to stockholders. To provide an environment which is conducive to the development of the individual and which encourages employees to realize their full capabilities * To adopt a flexible and objective attitude towards change and to pursue an active policy of innovation. Mission San Miguel Foundation, Inc. is committed to the empowerment of San Miguel host  communities  and  various  stakeholders  by  harnessing  corporate  social responsibility among the various San Miguel businesses in pursuing mutually beneficial programs that lead to  self-reliance and sustainability. Through its corporate social responsibility arm, San Miguel Foundation Incorporated, San Miguel Corporation proactively reaches out to others to bring forth change that will enable communities to live better lives. San Miguel Foundation, Inc. has crafted various programs and projects that address contemporary issues on livelihood, health, education, the environment and disaster relief following its overall direction of Enterprise, Education and the Environment. The San Miguel Foundation Team Camille B. Buenaventura Executive Director Jennifer E. Rodriguez Ken B. Reston Program Officers Rona Mei Y. Tanchico Faustino F. Olaguera Program Assistants Vision To take the lead in realizing San Miguel Corporation’s commitment to social development in the Company’s effort to contribute towards the improvement of life in the communities in which it operates and the public it serves. Mission San Miguel Foundation, Inc. is committed to the empowerment of San Miguel host communities and various stakeholders by harnessing corporate social responsibility among the various San Miguel businesses in pursuing mutually beneficial programs that lead to self-reliance and sustainability. Goals San Miguel Foundation, Inc. will initiate, manage and support social development initiatives that: Promote education to youth from low income families through scholarships, literacy classes and support programs like supplemental feeding, book donations, etc. Strengthen communities through capability building activities and the provision of basic social services; Support local enterprises that bring livelihood opportunities to community groups, dependents, San Miguel retirees and other stakeholders; Provide assistance to disaster-stricken communities through relief and ehabilitation programs; and protect, preserve and regenerate the environment. A corporation’s initiatives in social responsibility broaden with the growth of its business. This is especially true when social responsibility is woven into the fabric of its corporate structure. San Miguel is a company of people who care – about people and the communities we serve and partner with, as well as the busines ses we manage. We have a proud history of doing business honorably, of working to improve the quality of life, and giving something back. Social responsibility exemplifi es our spirit of caring. We care for our environment, our stakeholders, our customers and investors, our host communities, and our own people because they are integral to our growth. Our programs are designed to enhance the relevance of our social responsibility endeavors as we partner with these vital linkages to our various businesses. Social responsibility is a commitment we pursue for the long term as we continue to honor our social covenant with our various key publics. It is part of our corporate character. Eduardo M. Cojuangco, Jr.