Reef Chemistry Question of the Day 292: Fireworks

Randy Holmes-Farley

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Reef Chemistry Question of the Day 292

In honor of the Fourth of July (Independence Day, sorry, Great Britain), let's have some fireworks fun.

Which of these favorite reefing chemicals provides the orange color in many fireworks?

A. Calcium
B. Magnesium
C. Phosphate
D. Nitrate

Good luck and Happy Fourth of July!
 

jkcoral

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I know magnesium gives that super bright (and hot) white effects, and I don’t want to cheat, so I’ll guess calcium?
 

jkcoral

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Not much work to do today… and the primitive part of my brain wants to go light some reef supplies on fire to see what happens haha
 

taricha

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Ah, Fireworks. ICP-OES for the masses!
 

Rmckoy

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Reef Chemistry Question of the Day 292

In honor of the Fourth of July (Independence Day, sorry, Great Britain), let's have some fireworks fun.

Which of these favorite reefing chemicals provides the orange color in many fireworks?

A. Calcium
B. Magnesium
C. Phosphate
D. Nitrate

Good luck and Happy Fourth of July!
Strontium and sodium mixed will yield a bright orange colour

And remembering a conversation I had with a friend with a pyrotechnics business .

But also had to google to confirm https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/what-minerals-produce-colors-fireworks
 

billyocean

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I'm going to back to saying it's the magnesium..jk
20230703_110219.jpg
 

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