How are the different colores of fire made?
A flames color is dependent on the type of color generating compound that is used in that particular formula. Different chemical componds
release different wavelengths of light when their electrons change energy states. Here is a listing of the main color producing elements and
their corresponding color:
Strontium compounds: Red
Barium compounds: Green
Copper compounds: Blue
Sodium compounds: Yellow
When the color producing compounds grab the energy (usually in the form of heat) from a combustion reaction, they become "excited"
and will eventually lose that energy and go back to their original "ground" state. When they fall back to their ground state, they
will release the energy in the form of particle of light. The frequency (~color) is dependent on the amount of energy that it lost
going back to it's ground state.
The addition of Aluminum, Titanium, or Magnesium, will have an effect of brightning the colored flame (since it raises the temperature
of the reaction), but also lessens the purity of color. Different combinations of these color producing elements will theoretically
give you almost any color you can imagine.
This is by no means instructions on how to make fireworks. It's much much much more complicated then I have described above, hence
the reason there are no formulations shown here. There are many factors that go into actual formula making and should not be attempted
unless you have the background, knowledge, licensing, and experience to safely handle pyrotechnic materials.
