Analysis Fireworks

Uses/Sources. Manufacture of rat poisons for smoke screens gas analysis fireworks in ammunitions such as mortar, artillery shells, and grenades the elemental material is produced as a by-product in the production of phosphate fertilizer it does not occur in the elemental state in nature... 

The ability of the solid chlorates(V) to provide oxygen led to their use in matches and fireworks. Bromates(V) and iodates(V) are used in quantitative volumetric analysis. Potassium hydrogen diiodate(V), KHflOjlj, is used to standardise solutions of sodium thiosulphate(Vf) since in the presence of excess potassium iodide and acid, the reaction... 

Chemical testing is carried out in an approved laboratory because the firework must first be dismantled. Wet methods of analysis are applied that involve analytical grade reagents to detect, in particular, the presence of chlorates in admixture with elemental sulfur. Sulfur-chlorate mixtures are banned in the UK, and one use of sulfurless gunpowder is in fireworks where chlorates are also present. 

Figure 56. C. G. Storm. Author of numerous articles and government publications on the properties, testing, and analysis of smokeless powder and high explosives. Explosives Chemist at Navy Powder Works, 1901-1909, at U. S. Bureau of Mines, 1909-1915 Directing Chemist, Aetna Explosives Company, 1915-1917 Major and Lieutenant-Colonel, Ordnance Department, 1917-1919 Research Chemist, Trojan Powder Company, 1919 Chief Explosives Chemical Engineer, Office of the Chief of Ordnance, War Department, 1919-1942 since early in 1942, Technical Director, National Fireworks, Inc.

U. S. War Department Technical Manual TM 9-2900 and the U. S. Bureau of Mines Bulletins on the analysis of explosives describe the standard heat tests in detail. Explosives, Matches, and Fireworks by Joseph Reilly, New York, D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc., 1938, pp. 71-83, describes about 40 different heat tests. 

During the troubles in Northern Ireland only indoor-type fireworks could be purchased without a special license. Analysis of particles originating from the use of indoor-type fireworks showed only a few spherical particles the majority was large irregularly shaped flakes. The elements aluminum, barium, chlorine, chromium, iron, potassium, sulfur, and antimony were detected, all of which were at a major level. 

Analysis of particles originating from the use of outdoor fireworks revealed that the majority of the particles was irregular, many were crystalline, and many large flakes were present. A small proportion of the particles were spherical and physically resembled FDR particles. Elemental analysis showed the presence of aluminum, arsenic, barium, calcium, chlorine, copper, iron, potassium, magnesium, sodium, lead, sulfur, antimony, silicon, strontium, titanium, zinc, and zirconium. None of the particles detected would be confused with FDR particles as the primary FDR elements were always accompanied by elements that were clearly of non-FDR source. 

Quality. One analysis of a commercial sample showed 0.20% chloride and chlorate, 0.009% Pb, 0,009% Fe, 0.005% total nitrogen, 0.l6% moisture, 99 30% pure content and very little other impurity. For firework use the amount of chloride and chlorate must be less than this. 

Quality. It is tested by heating it in a porcelain crucible. If tar-like matter remains, a small amount of impurity is contained in the anthracene. For firework use it must be of good quality, otherwise the burning surface of the smoke composition is often covered by the tar-like matter which extinguishes the,fire. The material on the market passes 25 mesh. An example on analysis showed that it. contained 0.50% ash, had a specific gravity of 1.23 and a melting point of 210 212 C. 

Solid fuel is used in many commerical areas from rocket boosters to rock concert light shows. Components of solid fuel fall into four main catagories fuel, oxidizer, other special additives, and a binder. For example, various metal compounds and metal powders are used in fireworks to produce the brilliant colors that you see. An analysis shows that the powder from a gold cone fountain firework contained the following ... 

D. Chapman, Analysis for Chlorate and Sulfur in Fireworks , Journal of Pyrotechnics, No. 5, 1997. 

The presence of intense lines in the spectra of a number of metals is the basis for flame tests, simple tests used to identify elements in ionic compounds in the absence of a precise analysis of a compound s spectrum. For example, the emission spectrum of sodium features two closely spaced, bright yellow lines. When a crystal of a sodium salt (or a drop of a solution containing a sodium salt) is put into a flame, the flame glows bright yellow (Figure 7.14 ). As Figure 7.14 shows, other metals exhibit similarly characteristic colors in flame tests. Each color represents an especially bright spectral emission line (or a combination of two or more such lines). Similar emissions form the basis of the colors seen in fireworks. 

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