How do fireworks create their crazy colors?

    Fireworks generate visible light through events on a molecular level.  The electrons become agitated and shift to an excited energy level.  Excited energy levels would be any energy level above one.  However, to create colored light from the visible spectrum, electrons must fall from an excited state to the 2nd energy level, according to the Balmer series.  The transition of electrons from different energy levels to the 2nd energy level is what creates the wide range of colors.

The most spectacular colors are found during the flashpoint.  A flashpoint is the time of explosion when the metal reacts with oxygen in the oxidation process.  The more particles of metal that explode, the more impressive the color of the firework will be.  The metal that doesn't create much color may not have reached its flashpoint.  Even though the metal doesn't explode, electrons still move from a higher energy level to the 2nd energy level, thus creating light...it's just not a very intense or extraordinary color.

Since electrons have properties of waves, wavelengths can be determined.  If the wavelength is between 400 and 700 nm, then the light will fall in the visible spectrum, producing visible colored light.  Also, electron configurations help to connect chemical properties to an element.  Examples are given for Sparx For Soldiers Inc.'s five most popular firework colors.

1)  Copper chloride, when combusted, generates a sparkly bluish-green color.  The wavelength of the electrons is approximated to be 480 nm.  Copper's electron configuration is 1s²2s²2p⁶3s²3p⁶4s²3d⁹  OR  [Ar]4s²3d⁹.

2)  Lithium carbonate produces a magenta color, so the wavelength would be about 680 nm.  Lithium's electron configuration is 1s²2s¹  OR  [He]2s¹.

3)  Sodium chloride makes an orange color.  It's wavelength is approximately 600 nm.  Sodium's electron configuration is 1s²2s²2p⁶3s¹  OR  [Ne]3s¹.

4)  Cobalt chlorides generates yellowish sparkle with a wavelength of 560 nm.  Cobalt's electron configuration is 1s²2s²2p⁶3s²3p⁶4s²3d⁷  OR  [Ar]4s²3d⁷.

5)  Barium chloride produces a light green color.  Its wavelength is about 490 nm.  Barium electron configuration is 1s²2s²2p⁶3s²3p⁶4s²3d¹⁰4p⁶5s²4d¹⁰5p⁶6s²  OR  [Xe]6s².

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This is not that of a real company, but is for a chemistry assignment for General Chemistry 140 at Monmouth College.