Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Boom Go Fierce!
Fireworks, or pyrotechnics, continue to entertain, amuse, and surprise humans, though they are an antiquated form of combustion. Given the in-class discussion, coursework, and any additional reading discuss in your own words how pyrotechnics exemplify thermochemistry, as well as the relationship between pyrotechnic color(s) and thermochemistry.
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Pyrotechnics and Thermochemistry
Pyrotechnics is a perfect example of Thermochemistry. Thermochemistry is the study of chemical reactions and the heat and energy involved in those reactions. Particularly, it looks at energy changes. Pyrotechnics is the science with materials that go through exothermic (a reaction accompanied by the release of heat) chemical reactions. These chemical reactions result in light, smoke, heat, or sound. An example is fireworks. Therefore, pyrotechnics is just a type of Thermochemistry. The color’s involved in fireworks, for example, are just a manipulation of Thermochemistry. Incandescence is one way that a firework’s color is controlled. Incandescence is the light produced from heat. When material heats up, it becomes hot. At first, that hot substance emits infrared, then red, then orange, then yellow, and finally white light as it heats up more and more. In fireworks, the temperature can be controlled so that the substance becomes the correct temperature (and therefore color) at the correct time. Certain metals (aluminum, titanium, and magnesium for instance) cause temperature increases and therefore are used in fireworks.
Pyrotechnics is what makes fireworks. Thermochemistry is the transference of heat and energy that create physical and chemical changes in a substance. The manipulation of heat and energy is essentially what pyrotechnics use to make fireworks. For example, incandescence is light made from heat. Different metals burn at different bright colors and depending on the amount of heat the colors will vary. Luminescence is light made using other energy sources (not heat). What happens here is that energy is transmitted to an electron, exciting it and when the electron returns to a lower state of energy it emits the light that you see in fireworks.
As you can see, pyrotechnics just manipulates heat and energy in order to produce fireworks. Themochemistry is the study of heat and energy to change in chemical and physical states and because of this pyrochemistry and thermochemistry are extremely similar.
Pyrotechnics and fireworks are examples of thermochemistry at work. Thermochemistry is the study of heat and energy associated with chemical and physical reactions. In pyrotechnics, an exothermic chemical reaction is created to produce smoke, heat, fire, light, sound, and gas. An exothermic reaction is one that releases energy in the form of heat, light, electricity, or sound. Because of the release and use of heat to create something in the fireworks, they are an example of a thermochemical reaction. Thermochemistry can also be used to control the color that comes out of the firework. Usually fireworks use incandescent heat, which causes a substance to turn red, then orange, yellow, and white. When the temperature is effectively controlled, different colors can be produced. Metals like titanium, aluminum, and magnesium can be used to keep heat high and the light bright and control the colors produced.
Thermochemistry is the measurement and study of heat evolving and being absorbed during a chemical reactions. Pyrotechnics is a great example of Thermochemistry at work. Pyrotechnics are most commonly used and known as fireworks. Pyrotechnics is a self contained reaction which creates light, gass, heat and sound. Fireworks can be explained using the terms Luminescence and Incandescence. Luminescence in general is light created by energy which is not in the form of heat. For example this is created when energy is taken in by a molecule and in turn releases energy in the appearance of light. The amount of energy in the light is what determines if the color is light or dark. The more energy the light gives off the darker the light is going to be. In other words the shorter the wave length the darker the color will show to be. Incandescence also produces light only it is produced from heat. The hotter the substance the lighter the color. By controlling the heat of a firework colors can range from red, orange, yellow, and white (which is produced with the hottest energy).
Thermochemistry is the study of energy and heat that are associated with chemical reactions. Pyrotechnics build off of the foundations of thermochemistry by creating chemical reactions for the production of heat, light, smoke and sound. A very popular example of pyrotechnics is fireworks. The fireworks are an example of an exothermic reaction in which the release of energy/heat/light is omitted from the source. Pyrotechnicians (experts in the field of pyrotechnics) can vary the amount of energy contained in a firework, determining the color of the explosion. The spectrum of colors ranges from red, orange, yellow and then white, all depending on the amount of energy within the explosion. Since thermochemistry is the study of heat and energy, pyrotechnicians can use their understandings of thermochemistry to successfully control explosions, thereby creating very appealing fireworks.
One might ask, “how do those brilliant fireworks work?” It has to do with thermochemistry. Thermochemistry is the study of chemical reactions and the heat and energy that are involved in those reactions. Pyrotechnics (essentially study of fireworks) is the concept of using materials that will be controlled in exothermic reactions (release energy from a substance) and will produce light, gas, smoke, and some sound. So thermochemistry and pyrotechnics are closely related. This is because the fireworks rely on the heat to provide energy for the explosion and the colors. There are color producers inside the fireworks and the devices in the color producers are incandescence (give off light in result of applied heat) and luminescence (light produced from any energy source other than heat). The heat makes a substance emit infrared, red color, then an orange, glowy color, yellow, and white as the substance increases in temperature. Knowing this, firework manufactures can control the color of fireworks and increase the firework brightness. Luminescence is also an important part to the purpose of fireworks: Wherever the energy comes from is applied and then absorbed by electrons in the substance’s molecules or atoms and this extra energy makes the electrons excited which in turns causes a lack of stability within the molecule (aluminum, iron, steel, zinc, or magnesium dust are some examples used). Once the energy level of the electron decreases, light is released (form of energy). The energy of the photon (the light) determines how long the wavelength is and/or the color. Thermochemistry has helped create fireworks.
Fireworks are beautiful little explosions that almost everyone has seen at one point in their lives. We usually have them during celebrations as a form of entertainment yet most people don’t even know how they work. Pyrotechnics are an instance of Thermo chemistry. To understand this though, we first need to understand that Pyrotechnics are a science in which you use materials which can go through self contained and self sustained endothermic chemical reaction (heat absorbing). These reactions produce heat, light, gas, smoke and sound. Thermo chemistry in comparison is the research of energy and heat in chemical reactions/ physical transformations. The reactions and phase changes (melting or boiling) that take place can release or absorb energy. Pyrotechnics are just an example of the chemical reactions of energy that take place in Thermo chemistry. Besides the sounds and the lights fireworks create they also have beautiful colors. Pyrotechnic colors are formed when there are specific chemical compounds added to the flame which makes them burn in different colors. In fireworks there are two main ways to produce color: incandescence and luminescence. Incandescence is light produced by heat. The heat makes the material become hot and then blaze, in the beginning it is infrared but then it goes to red, orange yellow and white light when it becomes even hotter. Sometimes metals such as aluminum, magnesium and titanium are used to increase the temperature of the firework and make it brighter. Luminescence is light that is made using energy that is not heat. It is looked at as the cold light because it occurs in room temperature and colder temperatures. Sometimes the salts that we use to produce these colors are unstable so we add other more stable compounds. For example when we combine barium chloride and chlorinated rubber it produces a green color when the chlorine is released in the heat of the pyrotechnic composition (mixture of substances). Thermo chemistry relates to the incandescence more specifically because incandescence is light produced by heat and thermo chemistry is the study of that energy and heat in chemical reactions.
Pyrotechnics are mixtures of substances that, when ignited, produce heat, light, noise, smoke, or motion. The most common use is in fireworks but pyrotechnics are also used in matches, incendiaries, other igniters and initiators for explosives, and mechanical devices. Impact, friction, flame, sparks, or static electricity easily ignites most pyrotechnic mixtures. Pyrotechnics makes for a good example of thermochemistry, which focuses on the heat and energy related to chemical reactions and physical transformations. Incandescence is the emission of visible light by a hot object and is one way color may be altered in fireworks. Depending on the temperature, an object will display a different color and so pyrotechnicians are able to control what color a firework will be by determining what its temperature will be before igniting it. Different metals are used in the reactions depending on the color they create when burned.
Thermochemsitry is the study of energy and/or heat in associatation with chemical reactions or physcial changes. Pyrotechnics is the science of self-contained chemical reactions which result in heat, gas or light. Pyrotechnics is an example of Thermochemistry because, Thermochemistry is the study of energy whereas Pyrotechnics is the study of the result from the self-combusted energy. The focus of thermochemistry is the energy changes that occur, and with pyrotechnics the energy change can occur such that, heat, light, gas or smoke may be the result. An example of Pyrotechnics are fireworks, because they are self-induced chemical reactions that produce light. One way to change the color of the firework is based on the incandesence, which is the light that is produced from heat. The heat causes the light of a substance to change from Red - Orange - Yellow - White light and once the light can be controlled the color of the substance may be changed, increased heat given to a substance, the brighter the firework will be, when using very intensely colored metals.
To begin with, thermochemistry is a form of chemistry that focusing on the amount of heat that is either absorbed or released in a chemical reaction. Pyrotechnics are relevant to thermochemistry, in that the chemical reactions involved in pyrotechnics are highly dependent upon temperature, among other factors as well.
Pyrotechnics generate three types of energy: sound, light, and heat. The rapid release of energy in a pyrotechnic explosion causes air to move faster than sound, resulting in a “sonic boom” that we can feel and hear.
Varying colors in fireworks are dependent upon the metal salts used, such as sodium nitrate and calcium chloride. Each type of salt (when heated) releases varying amounts of energy resulting in a different color light. For example, when sodium nitrate is heated the sodium atoms become energized, rearranging the containing electrons to become excited. The initial phase (prior to the rearrangement of the electrons) is known as the “ground-state,” while the point when the electrons in the atoms become energized and excited is known as the “excited-state.” Atoms do not remain within the excited-state for very long, and eventually release a certain amount of energy (partially depending upon the salt that was heated) in the form of light. Additionally, every amount of energy is associated with a visible light of a different wavelength, as represented by the image of a color spectrum below:
http://scifun.chem.wisc.edu/chemweek/fireworks/fireworks.htm
Once an atom has released its energy it returns to the ground-state again. In other words, the heat energy being absorbed by the metal salt atoms becomes converted into energy in the form of visible light, sound, and more heat.
Thermochemistry is discribed as "the study of the energy and heat associated with chemical reactions and/or physical transformations". There are two types of reactions in thermochemistry which includes endo and exothermic reactions. Endothermic reactions obsorbe heat and Exothermic reactions release heat . Effects such as pyrotechnics occur when materials undergo exothermic reactions. For most people, the first example of pyrotechnics that comes to mind is fireworks. Because Pyrotechnics are just controlled exothermic reactions they are therefore are also examples of thermochemistry. One of the most appealing things about fireworks is their color, but achieving this color is not as simple as it may seam. When heat is released during the exothermic reaction it releases a sequence of different colors based on temperature. The material will first turn red, then orange, then yellow, and then white. The temperature of the reaction taking place in the firework can be controlled to create the desired color.
When we are looking at fireworks, there is not just one explosion that can cause perfect colors to be produced high in the air. What we are actually seeing can be understood by thermochemistry, which is the study of energy and heat involved in a chemical reaction or phase change. The firework is composed of clay pellets called stars, filled with different types of chemicals. The different types of chemicals have different reactions, therefore having a different color and brightness due to the heat that is produced during the reaction. The chemicals that burn at higher temperature will emit a color towards the blue and white spectrum, while the chemicals that burn at a lower temperature produce red, orange and yellow light. For example: calcium turns orange, sodium turns yellow, burning metals such as aluminum, titanium or magnesium turns silver. The emission of light is the byproduct of the molecules being heated and then cooling. Fireworks are incandescent meaning that they only emit light because a source of heat has been applied. The reaction that is occurring during the process is exothermic and energy is being released during the reaction. Pyrotechnics or fireworks require a series of explosions and chemicals becoming “excited” and producing light, meanwhile the electrons are settling into their ground state which is when the colors disappear. Without thermochemistry understanding fireworks would not be able to have the reaction to create these colors, and explosions that appeal to our eyes.
Thermochemistry and fireworks
Fireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnics that are used for entertainment. For centuries Americans have enjoyed the aesthetically pleasing firework show’s on the 4th of July and other special occasions. Although we have enjoyed fireworks for many years, most people could not explain how they work, and the complex science behind them.
Thermochemistry measures the heat changes associated with chemical reactions. Fireworks exemplify thermo chemistry because they use heat to produce vibrant colors in the sky. The colors derive from incandescence and luminescence. Incandescence is one of the primary reasons why we see these colors. Incandescence is light emitted as a result of heating. The altering temperature allows the fireworks to achieve a variety of colors on the visible light spectrum. Heat causes fireworks to glow at first emitting infrared, then red, orange, yellow, and white light as the temperature rises. Metals like aluminum, magnesium, and titanium are very bright when burned and are used for increasing the temperature of a firework.
When we view fireworks, most frequently on the 4th of July and other holidays, we are struck by the color, the noise, and the smoke created by the incredible pyrotechnics. These effects are possible because of thermochemistry. Thermochemistry is the study of the heat and energy involved in chemical reactions. When the temperature of a firework is controlled, the glow of the components of the firework, such as the charcoal, can be made to produce a certain color. This is because of incandescence, in light is produced from heat. The heat causes a substance to become hot or glow, which can produce colors such as red, orange, yellow, or white. These are colors frequently found in firework displays. There are metals, such as aluminum, magnesium, and titanium, that can burn very brightly and can thus be used to increase the temperature of the firework.
Thermochemistry is the study of chemical reactions and what amount of energy and heat are needed for the reactions. These reactions can be either be either endothermic (energy is absorbed) or exothermic (energy is released). It is impossible not to use thermochemistry in the making of pyrotechnics such as fireworks. Pyrotechnics is using materials in exothermic reactions to produce light, gas, smoke, or sound. The most appealing thing about fireworks is the different colors that they become. The most common way to produce color is incandescence, which is light produced by heat. This is why, by using thermochemistry, pyrotechnicians can change the color of each firework. By adding a specific metal compound into the flame, the color of the light will be changed based on the amount of energy the metal emits. The amount of energy released by the metal is determined by the wavelength of light. A metal with a high energy means it has a shorter wavelength of light (purple/blue part of light spectrum), and metals with lower energies have a longer wavelength of light (orange/red part of the light spectrum).
Chart showing the energy/wavelength relationship: http://bit.ly/qXN0GD
Certain aspects of pyrochemistry are examples of thermochemistry. Thermochemistry is the study of chemical reactions caused by the transfer of energy. Creating fireworks involves both incandescence and luminescence. Incandescence is light produced from heat so when it comes to fireworks when certain substances are heated they will produce different colors which is what we see during fireworks. Luminescence is light that is produced using energy sources other than heat. To produce luminescence, energy is absorbed by an electron of a molecule causing it to be excited. When the electron of a molecule drops down to a lower state of energy, that energy is released in the form of light. Incandescence is an example of thermochemistry because it uses heat to produce light and luminescence uses cold light which does not involve heat.
Here’s a common scenario:
It’s the 4th of July and you’re watching fireworks with your family. You’re in awe and amazed by the vibrant colors, loud sounds, and massive explosions of what seem to be bright lights. Here you are, admiring the beauty of scenery and you ask yourself, how does this happen? Well, the answer can be found in an explanation of pyrotechnics, a certain form of thermochemistry.
Thermochemistry is defined as the study of energy and heat that is associated with chemical reactions. Pyrotechnics is the science that deals with making fireworks through the use of materials that undergo exothermic chemical reactions. These particular reactions usually result in the release of heat, light, sound, or electricity. Since energy and heat is being associated with these exothermic chemical reactions, it is safe to say that pyrotechnics is a form of thermochemistry.
If you have seen fireworks, you know that they usually appear in different colors. The process of achieving these colors is distinctly expressed in two ways. The first process, incandescence, is the emission of light from heat. The second is luminescence which is the emission of light by an energy source other than heat. Although different, both of these processes work together to generate fireworks!
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