Fireworks for the 4th of July are all about light, color and sound. But inside, there are some bizarre ingredients, from aluminum to Vaseline and even the stuff of rat poison. An ancient mix of ...

The basic ingredients in black powder, and all fireworks, are the same as they’ve always been: a fuel source and an oxidizer. The fuel’s job, like the wax in a candle, is to provide heat.

Aside from the binder, most of these core ingredients are also elements. [K] Potassium is a key ingredient in firework oxidizers. Oxidizers give the fireworks enough oxygen for their big explosion.

An abandoned recipe for crackling fireworks called dragon eggs shows how chemists control the ingredients in the firework to get sound effects too. The oxidizing agent in this recipe is lead oxide, ...

Although watching fireworks to celebrate the independence of America sounds right, fireworks were actually created by the Chinese — and by accident. History says that in the 10th century, a ...

The future of fireworks means new chemicals and less smoke. Skip to main content. The homepage ... The main ingredient in fireworks hasn’t changed for the last 1,000 years: black powder.

Historians believe that black powder (gunpowder), the explosive ingredient in fireworks, was invented in China about A.D. 1000. The Italians were the first Europeans to develop fireworks into an ...

Experts say fireworks can last up to 20 years but could be dangerous if not stored properly. July 4 is approaching and we were asked, ... The main ingredient in fireworks is black powder, ...