Making sparklers

 

Making sparklers is an exciting activity that vividly demonstrates the energy released in chemical reactions.

Carefully weigh the following

10.0 g iron powder

0.5 g magnesium powder

2.0 g aluminium powder

6.0 g potassium powder

25 g barium nitrate

 

 

 

Place 6.0 grams of soluble starch in a 100 ml beaker. Add 15 ml of warm water and stir into a thick paste. Add the mixture of the above chemicals to the starch. Role the mixture into a long cylindrical shape. Allow it to dry overnight on  bench top.

 

When dry  use a lighter to ignite it. Keep students at least 5 metres away. Only ignite the mixture outdoors.

 

The chemicals used are reactive and small hot pieces of metal will shoot into the air. Proper eye protection should be worn.

 

The nitrates  and chlorates decompose on heating to produce oxygen gas. This oxygen gas ignites the metals and shoots them out.

 

Write the equations below in the form of a proper balanced chemical equations.

Aluminium and Oxygen gas àAluminium oxide

Al + O2  à Al2O3 (Balance this equation now)

 

Magnesium and Oxygen gas à Magnesium oxide (MgO)

 

Iron and oxygen gas à iron oxide (Fe2O3)

 

Barium nitrate à Barium Oxide (BaO) + Oxygen gas (O2)