Wednesday, December 26, 2012

F/Alphabe-Thursday

 Festive Fireworks

 F is for FIREWORKS

Would you believe a Chinese cook discovered fireworks. Legend has it the cook discovered that in a small space a mixture of saltpeter, sulfur and charcoal was explosive.  What a nasty surprise!

Magnesium, aluminum and titanium give off white sparkles

Apparently the Mongols took the mixture to Europe as gunpowder, the first records going back to 1258.  But during the 19th century. colour was added:

Copper - blue
Strontium - red
barium - green
sodium - yellow

Salts added to the mixture create colours

I am linking to Jenny Matlock at Alphabe-Thursday HERE

30 comments:

DeniseinVA said...

Fascinating, I never knew that before. Great photos! Happy New Year!

MadSnapper said...

thanks for the info, i had no idea when, where or how fireworks came about.

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

Interesting all the colors.

Hilda said...

I wonder if some colors are more expensive than others—I rarely see blue fireworks here.

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas!

Darla said...

Very interesting history lesson. Love the bright colored photos.

Darla

Dianne said...

beautiful fireworks!!

Kathy said...

These are fabulous fireworks shots! I've never had the opportunity to photograph fireworks. That surprises me too!

Lowell said...

I didn't know that! I'll bet that cook thought he'd re-invented the Big Bang!

TexWisGirl said...

i bet we'll have some around here again for new years. :)

Judy said...

Pretty fireworks and perfect for welcoming in the New Year!

Grandma Barb's This and That said...

Pretty fireworks. Thanks for the info on how they were invented and how colors were added!

Jack said...

Gosh, those are pretty. I haven't had much luck so far in photographing fireworks.

cieldequimper said...

The fireworks are gorgeous but I love the blue of the sky even more!

RedPat said...

A happy post for the day!

Esther Joy said...

Very interesting and informative! Well, I better get off here and work on my Alphabe-post for this week!

Happy New Year!

Midwestern City Girl said...

Great photos, and very interesting facts about fireworks. Have a wonderful New Year's!

Craver Vii said...

From high school, I knew the ingredients were common, but they never told us what they were. Could it be because I went to an all boys' school? I'm sure these guys would have experimented if they knew. Not me... I'd rather keep all my fingers, thankyouverymuch.

Small City Scenes said...

We had a very nice quiet, low key Christmas. I hope yours was all you wanted to be.
Much happiness in the New Year. MB

Sandy said...

Thanks, I learned something new with your post...
Happy Happy New Year to you
and your family.
Sandy

Anonymous said...

Beautiful pictures! Here's to a wonderful 2013!

Snowcatcher said...

Spectacular shots! I love fireworks, and you've captured them beautifully!

Happy new year!

Naperville Now said...

great firework shots! (mine rarely turn out)~ Happy 2013 to you.

VBR said...

I love fireworks. And your photos surely show why! Lovely images.
And a happy 2013 to you also.

carol l mckenna said...

Fantastic photography ~ Wow! Great post for 'F' ^_^

(A Creative Harbor ~ aka ArtmuseDog and Carol ^_^)

Pride In Photos Beauty said...

Wow...who knew all this great information. All I know is I love fireworks!! Thanks for sharing. Beautiful images..
Laurie

Debra at HOMESPUN: http://www.thehomespun.com said...

Great F post / Happy new year! :)

Lmkazmierczak said...

Bear With Me...lovely captures. Stay safe in 2013♫♪

Cezar and Léia said...

Very elucidating post! Interesting to learn about this!
Wishing you as well a great 2013!
God bless you!
Cezar

Splendid Little Stars said...

a nasty surprise for the cook! a wonderful discovery for us!
I do love fireworks!

Jenny said...

What a fun and fascinating post!

I didn't know any of this.

I thought it was just weird manufactured chemicals that made all the colors!

I can hardly wait for the 4th of July to impress people with my knowledge!

Thanks for sharing this fun post.

A+

Friends who encourage me

Blog Archive

About Me

My photo
East Gwillimbury is a rural town less than an hour north of Toronto, Canada's largest city. My family calls me CameraGirl because I take my camera with me wherever I go.