Post-Duel Discussion Questions & Answers
1. Question: Were there any differences in sparklers between the two sides?
Answer: Color and burn rate, depending on how well students mixed the sparkler paste.
2. Question: What was happening to the iron, aluminum and magnesium powders as the
sparkler burned?
Answer: They oxidized. The oxygen produced from the nitrate reacted with the
powdered metals. Additionally, the overall reaction heat accelerates the oxidation.
3. Question: What type of reaction was occurring?
Answer: Oxidation-reduction reactions.
4. Question: How were the metal particles ejected from the rod?
Answer: Nitrogen and oxygen produced by the nitrate reaction.
5. Question: Based on your handout, are the nitrate reactions spontaneous? Are they
exothermic or endothermic?
Answer: Yes, both nitrate reactions are spontaneous. Both are exothermic.
6. Question: Why did we have to use a flame to start the reaction if the potassium nitrate
reaction is spontaneous?
Answer: The kinetics for decomposition is very slow unless heat is applied to drive the
reaction. Additionally, increase heat is needed to drive barium nitrate decomposition.
7. Question: From what you learned, if you made another sparkler, what modifications
would you make to its chemistry? And, why?
8. Question: How interesting was this activity? Will you remember this activity in a year?
Wizardry and Chemistry Activity — Post-Duel Discussion Questions & Answers