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Science

ProfessorGAC

(73,128 posts)

6. I Used To Add A Little Sodium Tetraborate...

Reply to BootinUp (Original post)

Wed Jul 5, 2023, 05:49 PM

Jul 2023

...to the smokeless powder we used in our pyro cans.
Boron creates a green color, while sodium creates bright yellow.
Given formula & relative mass, the colors are nearly equal and it creates a cool greenish yellow flame.
Did some additions with strontium nitrate to get deep red, too. But, it was way easier to get tetraborate. It's borax, and we could get it at the grocery store.

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What minerals produce the colors in fireworks? (infographic) [View all] BootinUp Jul 2023 OP

Thanks! 2naSalit Jul 2023 #1

Toxic PlutosHeart Jul 2023 #2

Agree! there are now drones that can produce spectacular shows without all the PortTack Jul 2023 #3

Interesting - thanks for posting! Rhiannon12866 Jul 2023 #4

No matter the color I was going for, I always put in the powdered iron, loved the sparkles. Warpy Jul 2023 #5

I Used To Add A Little Sodium Tetraborate... ProfessorGAC Jul 2023 #6