Reef Chemistry Question of the Day 292: Fireworks

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

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]

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

 

[AstroCoral]

My guess is calcium (although my first guess was sodium but that wasn’t a choice haha)

 

[jkcoral]

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

 

[Gumbies R Us]

My vote is on calcium as well!!

 

[SaltwaterandLime]

I would have said strontium.....

 

[mrehfeld]

Phosphate

 

[dangles]

Trick question. They just add blue food coloring.

 

[X-37B]

Calcium.

 

[Troylee]

No3

 

[Glenner’sreef]

My guess phosphate! “Sorry Great Britain” lol

 

[taricha]

Ah, Fireworks. ICP-OES for the masses!

 

[billyocean]

I think phosphate is green...maybe magnesium?

 

[Troylee]

I think phosphate is green...maybe magnesium?

Mag is what sparklers are made of.. that’s a bright white..

 

[Rmckoy]

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

 

[therootcause]

Does phosphorous burn orange? That's my guess.

 

[therootcause]

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

the parties over I guess...

 

[billyocean]

Mag is what sparklers are made of.. that’s a bright white..

Shows how many fireworks I've made..lol.

 

[Rmckoy]

the parties over I guess...

Not yet .
Because none of those are on the list of answers

Randy has something else in mind

 

[billyocean]

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