How to Make Colored Sparklers

How to Make Colored Sparklers Sparklers are small handheld fireworks that give off fiery sparks rather than explode. Sparklers consist of a thin metal or wooden stick coated with a simple pyrotechnic mixture. Colored sparklers really are as easy to make as regular sparklers. The difference lies in the oxidizer that is used. Youre basically replicating a flame test, except in reverse since you know the colors to expect from various metal ions. Potassium nitrate or saltpeter will impart a violet color. Barium nitrate burns green. Strontium nitrate burns red. Aside from ordering from a chemical supply store, you can find strontium nitrate in emergency flares and potassium nitrate at some garden supply stores (or you can make it yourself). You can mix in other metal salts from the flame test or colored fire list, but only go for one color. If you try to mix colors, youll likely wind up with a basic golden sparkler. There are several recipes for colored sparklers. Here are some examples. Ingredients are listed in terms of parts by weight, so you can use milligrams or grams or ounces... whatever works for you. Red Sparklers 5 parts strontium nitrate1 part shellac Dip iron wires or wooden sticks in the mixture and allow it to dry completely before use. Be sure to leave enough room on the stick so that you can hold the sparkler safely. Green Sparklers 300 parts potassium chlorate60 parts barium nitrate60 parts aluminum fines, flitter, or granules2 parts charcoal10% dextrin in water solution Dip the wires or sticks in a mixture made from the dry ingredients with just enough dextrin solution to make a thick slurry. Dry the sparklers before use. Another option for a green sparkler is to substitute boric acid or borax for the barium nitrate. Purple Sparklers 14 parts potassium nitrate3 parts powdered sulfur3 parts powdered charcoal2 parts aluminum flitter (for sparks)10% dextrin in water Dip the sticks in a mixture made from the dry ingredients with enough dextrin solution to make a slurry. Note the human eye is not very sensitive to the color violet. The purple color is easily overwhelmed by the color that may be produced by any chemical contaminant in the mixture. If the sparkler appears yellow instead of purple, it means sodium is present. Salt is the most likely culprit. Substitutions in Sparkler Recipes By examining these recipes, you can see aluminum flitter may be added to make sparks in any sparkler. Fine particles of other metals also produce sparks. Titanium makes white sparks while iron filings produce golden sparks. Dextrin is a common binder and fuel in sparkler recipes. If it is unavailable, sugar or starch may be used. Other colors of sparklers are also possible. For example, using a copper salt will produce a blue or a green flame, depending on the oxidation state of the copper. The default color of a sparkler is yellow or gold, but the color may be brightened and enhanced by adding a small amount of table salt or sodium chloride (NaCl) to the mixture. Adding the tiniest amount of salt to a red sparkler can produce an orange flame. Calcium salts can also produce the orange color. Disclaimer: Please be advised that the content provided by our website is for EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. Fireworks and the chemicals contained within them are dangerous and should always be handled with care and used with common sense. By using this website you acknowledge that ThoughtCo., its parent About, Inc. (a/k/a Dotdash), and IAC/InterActive Corp. shall have no liability for any damages, injuries, or other legal matters caused by your use of fireworks or the knowledge or application of the information on this website. The providers of this content specifically do not condone using fireworks for disruptive, unsafe, illegal, or destructive purposes. You are responsible for following all applicable laws before using or applying the information provided on this website.

3 Prominent Themes Found in William Shakespeares Othello

3 Prominent Themes Found in William Shakespeares Othello In Shakespeares Othello, themes are essential to the working of the play. The text is a rich tapestry of plot, character, poetry, and theme – elements which come together to form one of the Bards most engaging tragedies. Othello  Theme 1: Race Shakespeare’s Othello is a Moor, a black man - indeed, one of the first black heroes in English literature. The play deals with interracial marriage. Others have a problem with it, but Othello and Desdemona are happily in love. Othello holds an important position of power and influence. He has been accepted into Venetian society based on his bravery as a soldier. Iago uses Othello’s race to ridicule and belittle him, at one point calling him â€Å"thick lips†. Othello’s insecurities surrounding his race ultimately lead to his belief that Desdemona is having an affair. As a black man, he doesn’t feel he is worthy of his wife’s attention or that he has been embraced by Venetian society. Indeed, Brabanzio is unhappy about his daughter’s choice of suitor, due to his race. He is quite happy to have Othello regale stories of bravery to him but when it comes to his daughter, Othello is not good enough. Brabanzio is convinced that Othello has used trickery to get Desdemona to marry him: â€Å"O thou damned thief, where hast thou stowed my daughter? Damned as thou art, thou hast enchanted her, For I’ll refer me to all things of sense, If she in chains of magic were not bound, Whether a maid so tender, fair, and happy, So opposite to marriage that she shunned The wealthy curled darlings of our nation, Would ever have t’incur a general mock, Run from her guardage to the sooty bosom Of such a thing as thou†Brabanzio: Act 1 Scene 3. Othello’s race is an issue for Iago and Brabanzio but, as an audience, we are rooting for Othello, Shakespeare’s celebration of Othello as a black man is ahead of its time, the play encourages the audience to side with him and take against the white man who is mocking him just because of his race. Othello Theme 2: Jealousy The story of Othello is propelled by feelings of intense jealousy. All of the action and consequences that unfold are the result of jealousy. Iago is jealous of Cassio’s appointment as lieutenant over him, he also believes that Othello has had an affair with Emilia, his wife, and harbors plans for revenge on him as a result. Iago also appears to be envious of Othello’s standing in Venetian society; despite his race, he has been celebrated and accepted in society. Desdemona’s acceptance of Othello as a worthy husband demonstrates this and this acceptance is due to Othello’s valor as a soldier, Iago is envious of Othello’s position. Roderigo is jealous of Othello because he is in love with Desdemona. Roderigo is essential to the plot, his actions act as a catalyst in the narrative. It is Roderigo who goads Cassio into the fight which loses him his job, Roderigo attempts to kill Cassio so that Desdemona stays in Cyprus and eventually Roderigo exposes Iago. Iago convinces Othello, erroneously, that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio. Othello reluctantly believes Iago but is finally convinced of his wife’s betrayal. So much so that he kills her. Jealousy leads to Othello’s degradation and ultimate downfall. Othello Theme 3: Duplicity â€Å"Certain, men should be what they seem†Othello: Act 3, Scene 3 Unfortunately for Othello, the man who he trusts in the play, Iago, is not what he seems he is scheming, duplicitous and has a deep malevolent loathing for his master. Othello is made to believe that Cassio and Desdemona are the duplicitous ones. This mistake of judgment leads to his downfall. Othello is prepared to believe Iago over his own wife because of his faith in his servant’s honesty; â€Å"This fellow’s of exceeding honesty† (Othello, Act 3 Scene 3). He doesn’t see any reason why Iago might double cross him. Iago’s treatment of Roderigo is also duplicitous, treating him as a friend or at least a comrade with a common goal, only to kill him in order to cover up his own guilt. Fortunately, Roderigo was savvier to Iago’s duplicity than he knew, hence the letters exposing him. Emilia could be accused of duplicity in exposing her own husband. However, this endears her to the audience and demonstrates her honesty in that she has discovered her husband’s wrongdoings and is so outraged that she exposes him.