• Question: Is it possible to make mini fireworks at home?

    Asked by esmaalovee to Laura, Lily, Mark, Paul, Sarah on 21 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Sarah Bardsley

      Sarah Bardsley answered on 18 Jun 2010:

      Absolutely not kids.

    • Photo: Laura Maliszewski

      Laura Maliszewski answered on 18 Jun 2010:

      I wouldn’t advise it. Gun powder and gun cotton are extremely dangerous and should only be handled by professionals.

    • Photo: Lily Asquith

      Lily Asquith answered on 19 Jun 2010:

      Probably, if you don’t mind blowing your limbs off in the process.

    • Photo: Mark Roberts

      Mark Roberts answered on 21 Jun 2010:

      Erm yes…..

      If you get a plastic container and something that produced CO2 – eg Alka-Seltzer tablet – Put the a lid on – one that can pop off NOT A SCREW lid eg a film caninster. Place lid side down and watch it fly

      For more info see:
      http://www.physics.org/interact/physics-to-go/alka-seltzer-rocket/index.html

      but make sure you do it safely and fire into the air clear of other people and outside!

    • Photo: Paul Roche

      Paul Roche answered on 21 Jun 2010:

      Yes, you can mix various “common” chemicals together to make small explosives – but that’s potentially very dangerous (and might get the anti-terrorist police interested in you!), and not something I’d recommend. When I was younger (13-15), I did take fireworks apart and try to extract the black powder, and make my own fireworks – but looking back, that was pretty dodgy, and definitely not a very sensible thing to do…

      As Mark says, the safer option is to use Alka Seltzer to make mini-rockets, powered by carbon dioxide, or else drop Mentos into fizzy drinks and watch the resulting fountain of sugary liquid….

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