Speaker: Gary Morse

This presentation looks at origins of fireworks and the study of light. The discovery of the visible
spectrum and the phenomenon of elements emitting fixed wavelengths of light when excited that
lead to the discovery of many more elements by the use of spectroscopic techniques to identify
their unique spectral fingerprint. Chemists then created salts of these elements that when excited
by the high temperatures created by the reactions within a firework give a whole spectrum of
colours to fill the sky. We shall be looking at what minerals are essential for the various colours
produced. Gary is a retired industrial chemist and amateur mineralogist.