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The Supreme Court ban on the use of antimony, lithium, mercury, arsenic and lead in the manufacture of firecrackers to prevent air pollution has turned the focus on what chemicals are used to produce spectacular visual effects and noise.

Concern over firecracker

No standards have been laid down by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) with regard to air pollution caused by the bursting of firecrackers.

Effect of firecracker

• Aluminium powder, sulphur and potassium nitrate go into noise-making crackers, while barium nitrate (green) and strontium nitrate (red) emit light.
• Aluminium powder is used in sparklers.
• Chinese crackers, which use chlorate are, therefore, banned in India.
• Colours in FIRECRACKER
  

  Red	Strontium salts (Nitrates, carbonates and sulphates of strontium)
  Orange	Calcium salts (Carbonates, chlorides and sulphates of calcium)
  Yellow	Sodium salts ( Nitrates and oxalates of sodium)
  Green	Barium salts (Nitrates, carbonates, chlorides and chlorates of barium)
  Blue	Copper salts (Carbonates and oxides of copper)
  Purple	A combination of copper and strontium compounds
  White	he burning of metals like magnesium, aluminium and titanium)

Source : The Hindu

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