Скачать или смотреть Crack Your Crackers | Chemistry in Action & Reaction | BITM Open-Air Science Show Ahead of Deepavali

Kolkata, India — 17 October, 2025. The *Birla Industrial & Technological Museum (BITM)**, a unit of the **National Council of Science Museums (NCSM)* under the *Ministry of Culture, Government of India**, Kolkata – 700019, organized an **Open-Air Science Show* titled *“Crack Your Crackers: Chemistry in the Action & Reaction of Fire Crackers”* for the general public, especially school and college students, ahead of *Deepavali (Diwali)* – India’s largest festival of lights.

This 35-minute *single-shot immersive session**, conducted in mixed **English, Hindi, and Bengali**, was led by **Tarun Kumar Das**, Technical Officer of BITM. The live demonstration engaged audiences with spectacular experiments explaining the **science behind fireworks* — from oxidation and combustion to the chemistry of colours, sounds, and sparkles that make Diwali celebrations dazzling.

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🎇 *The Science Behind Fireworks*

The show explored how chemical reactions produce the vibrant colours and effects we see in fireworks. Each hue and sound in a firecracker has a precise **chemical and physical explanation**. The session delved deep into:

*Oxidation and Combustion Reactions* – How oxygen fuels the explosion.
*Colour Chemistry* – The role of metallic salts and their emission spectra.
*Sound and Sparkle Formation* – The chemistry behind crackle, bang, and sparkle.
*Eco-friendly Innovations* – What makes “green crackers” less polluting.

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🌿 *Are Green Crackers Really Green?*

The session also raised a vital environmental question — “Are Green Crackers truly green?”
Through scientific facts and data, the program highlighted that while **green crackers are safer alternatives**, they are **not completely pollution-free**.

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⚗️ *The Science Inside Green Crackers*

Green crackers are designed to *reduce emissions by 30–50%* compared to traditional ones. However, they still emit the same gases — only in smaller quantities.
Here’s how they differ chemically:

*30% less air pollutant emissions*
*50% less sulphur dioxide emissions*
*Reduced use of heavy metals* responsible for bright colours

*Common Metal Compounds in Fireworks:*

🔴 *Red* – Strontium salts (nitrates, carbonates, sulphates)
🟠 *Orange* – Calcium salts (carbonates, chlorides, sulphates)
🟡 *Yellow* – Sodium salts (nitrates, oxalates)
🟢 *Green* – Barium salts (nitrates, carbonates, chlorates)
🔵 *Blue* – Copper salts (oxides, carbonates)
🟣 *Purple* – Copper + Strontium compounds
⚪ *White* – Magnesium, Aluminium, Titanium

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💧 *Types of Green Crackers – The Cleaner Trio*

To mitigate air pollution, scientists designed three variants that release *water vapour* or *air* to act as dust suppressants and reduce toxic gas concentration:

1. *SWAS (Safe Water Releaser)* – Reduces sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions by **at least 30%**.
2. *SAFAL (Safe Minimal Aluminium)* – Uses minimal aluminium, achieving **35% lower particulate matter**.
3. *STAR (Safe Thermite Cracker)* – Reduces gaseous emissions and particulate matter levels like SWAS.

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🎓 *About the Presenter*

**Tarun Kumar Das**, Technical Officer at BITM, is a skilled science communicator known for his engaging demonstrations that blend curiosity with education. His trilingual approach made the science of fireworks accessible and enjoyable to audiences of all ages.

Through real-life demonstrations and live audience participation, he emphasized *how chemistry can be both fun and environmentally aware* when applied with scientific understanding.

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🏛️ *Organized by*

*Birla Industrial & Technological Museum (BITM)*
A Unit of the *National Council of Science Museums (NCSM)*
Under the *Ministry of Culture, Government of India*
Kolkata – 700019

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🎬 *In this Video You Will See:*

1. A 35-minute *single-shot science show* filmed live in open air.
2. *Real-time demonstrations* of chemical reactions producing fireworks’ colour and sparkle.
3. *Scientific explanation* of oxidation, combustion, and pollution control.
4. Interactive **Q&A with students and public participants**.
5. Insightful discussion on **Green Crackers – myth vs. science**.

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🔍 *Keywords / Tags:*

BITM Kolkata, Birla Industrial and Technological Museum, National Council of Science Museums, NCSM, Ministry of Culture India, Crack Your Crackers, Open-Air Science Show, Firecracker Chemistry, Diwali Science, Green Crackers, CSIR NEERI, Tarun Kumar Das, Firework Colours, Combustion Reaction, Oxidation, Chemistry Demonstration, Environmental Pollution, Air Quality India, Safe Firecrackers, Science Communication, Science Education, Eco-Friendly Diwali, Sustainable Celebration, Deepavali Festival, BITM Event, Science Show Kolkata, Science for Students, Fireworks Explained, Fireworks Safety, Public Science Outreach.