The Chemistry of Powder and Explosives - Sciencemadness Dot Org

60 PYROTECHNICS
of them, there is another salt . . . that affords a variety of
amusing experiments. This salt is the hyperoxymuriate or chlorate
of potassa. Although it has neither been used for fire-works on an
extensive scale, nor does it enter into any of the compositions
usually made for exhibition, yet its effect is not the less amusing."
At a later place Cutbush says: "M. Ruggieri is of opinion,
that chlorate, or hyperoxymuriate of potassa may be employed
with advantage in the composition of rockets, but we have not
heard that it has been used. It is more powerful in its effects, and
probably for this reason he recommended it. This salt, mixed with
other substances, will produce the green fire of the palm-tree, in
imitation of the Russian fire." 12
Ruggieri's Russian fire, as his son later described it, consisted
of crystallized copper acetate 4 parts, copper sulfate 2 parts, and
ammonium chloride 1 part, 13 all finely pulverized and mixed with
alcohol, and placed upon cotton wick attached to spikes upon the
thin metal pieces which were the leaves of the palm tree. The
resulting display would not be impressive according to modern
standards.
Cutbush also knew how to color the flame, for he says:
We are of opinion, that many of the nitrates might be advantageously
employed in the manufacture of fire works.
Some, as nitrate of strontian, communicate a red color to
flame, as the flame of alcohol. Nitrate of lime also might be
used. . . . Muriate of strontian, mixed with alcohol, or
spirit of wine, will give a carmine-red flame. For this experiment,
one part of the muriate is added to three or four
parts of alcohol. Muriate of lime produces, with alcohol, an
orange-coloured flame. Nitrate of copper produces an emerald-green
flame. Common salt and nitre, with alcohol, give
a yellow flame. 14
According to Brock, the use of chlorate in pyrotechnic mixtures,
initiating the modern epoch in the art, first occurred about
1830. Lieut. Hippert of the Belgian artillery published at
Bruxelles in 1836 a French translation, "Pyrotechnie raisonnee,"
of a work by Prussian artillery Captain Moritz Meyer in which
one chapter is devoted to colored fires, and listed several com-
12 Cutbush, op. cit., p. 77.
13 Ruggieri, "Handbiichlein der Lustfeuerwerkerei," second edition, Quedlinburg
and Leipzig, 1845, p. 142.
"Cutbush, op. 6,1., pp. 8 and 20.