- View more resources from this publisher
Teachers TV
Tooltip
These resources have been reviewed and selected by STEM Learning’s team of education specialists for factual accuracy and relevance to teaching STEM subjects in UK schools.
Banging Chemistry: Fireworks
In this video, produced by Teachers TV, explosive experts, Dr. Jacqueline Akhavan and Dr. Alex Contini, explain the explosive chemical and physical reactions behind fireworks. Through a series of controlled explosions they demonstrate combustion reactions in fireworks in a way that could never be done in a classroom.
The reactions begin with gunpowder, the basis of all fireworks before moving on to show why many modern stage and TV effects use flash powder instead of gunpowder.
Dr. Akhavan and Dr. Contini change the colour of a firework by adding a metal salt and heighten its effect by adding a whistle and a scream. Finally they open up a rocket to identify and predict what an identical rocket might do when ignited.
Show health and safety information
Please be aware that resources have been published on the website in the form that they were originally supplied. This means that procedures reflect general practice and standards applicable at the time resources were produced and cannot be assumed to be acceptable today. Website users are fully responsible for ensuring that any activity, including practical work, which they carry out is in accordance with current regulations related to health and safety and that an appropriate risk assessment has been carried out.
Information on the permitted use of this resource is covered by the Category Three Content section in STEM Learning’s Terms and conditions.
