Internet version [Naruhodo no Mori] Vol.30

by Yumiko Mori

Vol. 30 June 15th, 1997

Fireworks in water

Home science experiments for mothers of elementary school children

Satoshi: "Mom, I want to do this!"
Satoshi has brought fireworks which are left-over from the last year.
Mom: "Fireworks? It's a bit too early for the season. Do you want to try in the kitchen?"
Satoshi: "Yes I do!"
Mom: "How about doing fireworks in water? "
Satoshi: "Let's do it, Mom! "

Mom wraps fireworks with a piece of aluminum foil.
Tae and Toshi are looking curiously what Mom and Satoshi are doing.
Tae: "What are you doing, Mom? "
Mom: "I was told we can do fireworks in water by this way. I'm not sure we can."
Toshi: "I bet you cannot do fireworks in water."
Tae: "I agree. You are going to waste fireworks."
Tae: " If fire isn't extinguished by water, how can firemen extinguish fire?"
Mom: "Shall we start anyhow?"
Tae: "This is the first time we play with fireworks inside the house."
Tae lights up a firework and dips it into water.
Tae: "No! Fire went out, Mom!"
Mom: "Dip the sparkler more slowly the next time."
This time Mom tried.
This time the sparkler starts burning.
Emitting red sparks, the sparkler burns in water until it completely burns out.
Toshi: "Really amazing!"
Mom: "It's still unbelievable even after we saw the fireworks."
Tae: "I agree it was amazing. But can you do something with this smoke and smell? This is terrible! We should always do fireworks outside."

Materials

Several fireworks	(hand-held sparkler type)
Aluminum foil	(4-5 cm wide and long enough to cover the gunpowder portion of sparklers)
A Scotch tape
A lighter	(Or matches)
A glass jar with a wide opening	(Such as a instant coffee jar)
A fan	(Useful for fanning off smoke)

How to do fireworks in water

Required time: 20 min

Wrap around each sparkler with a piece of aluminum foil and tape its end with a piece of Scotch tape.

Step 1

Pour water into a glass jar. Place it in the kitchen sink. Clean up around the sink to prevent something from catching fire.

Step 2

Light up one of the wrapped sparklers. When fire reaches the aluminum foil piece, slowly dip the sparkler into water straight down.

Step3

Watch the sparkler is firing in water.

Photograph Offer: Sankei Shimbun

* Make sure an adult supervises children for safety.

* Do not dip your sparkler into water before the gunpowder catches flame.

*The experiment produces smoke and unpleasant smell. Open windows to exchange air.

* A lot of gas comes out when you burn a sparkler in water.
Warning! Do not breath this gas! The gas includes carbon monoxide.

* The reason why fireworks can burn in water is that they contain potassium nitrate (saltpeter). Potassium nitrate produces oxygen when heated.

Against common sense

Most people would not believe it possible to do fireworks in water. Common sense is 'fire is extinguished by water'. When I faced the reality of fireworks burning in water, my common sense was turned over completely. If your thought is always based on common sense, you may be restraining your mind. Common sense is not always right. I felt my mind has become a little more flexible due to this experiment.

Author	Yumiko Mori (Zushi, Kanagawa, Japan)
Illustration	Mitsue Ogata
Translator	Akira Ishihara
HTML format	Muneo Kume