Pyrotechnic colorant
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A Pyrotechnic colorant is a chemical compound which causes a flame to burn with a particular color. These are used to create the colors in fireworks. Some common examples are:
| Colour | Compound name | Chemical formula |
|---|---|---|
| Red | Strontium nitrate | SrNO3 |
| Red | Strontium carbonate | SrCO3 |
| Orange | Calcium chloride | CaCl2 |
| Orange | Hydrated calcium sulfate | CaSO4(H2O)x* |
| Gold/Yellow | Charcoal powder | C |
| Gold/Yellow | Iron powder with carbon | Fe+C |
| Gold/Yellow | Sodium nitrate | NaNO3 |
| Gold/Yellow | Cryolite | Na3AlF6 |
| Green | Barium chloride | BaCl2 |
| Green | Barium carbonate | BaCO3 |
| Green | Barium nitrate | Ba(NO3)2 |
| Green | Barium oxalate | BaC2O4 |
| Blue | Copper(I) chloride | CuCl |
| Blue | Copper(II) oxide | CuO |
| Blue | Copper carbonate | CuCO3 |
| Purple | Combination of red and blue compounds | Sr+Cu |
| Purple | Rubidium compounds (rarely used) | Rb |
| Silver/White | Aluminium powder | Al |
| Silver/White | Magnesium powder | Mg |
| Silver/White | Titanium powder | Ti |
| Silver/White | Antimony (III) sulfide | Sb2S3 |
The * indicates that the compound will burn orange where x=0,2,3,5.
The color blue is notoriously difficult to produce in fireworks, as the copper compounds need to be heated at a specific temperature for the optimal shade of blue to be produced. Thus, a deep, rich blue is usually viewed as the mark of an experienced fireworks maker.
