# Those "Crunchy" Fireworks: How? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 8, 2007, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-crunchy-fireworks-how/410953 "2007-07-08T10:54:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2007, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-crunchy-fireworks-how/410953/1 "2007-07-08T10:54:06Z")
You know those fireworks that look like dust and fizzle out all at once like rice crispies? They fizzle out quite loudly, I may add. What makes them fizzle instead of pop? ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2007, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-crunchy-fireworks-how/410953/2 "2007-07-08T11:02:10Z")
Oops! ---
**Author:** ![Stealth\_Potato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Stealth\_Potato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stealth_Potato)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2007, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-crunchy-fireworks-how/410953/3 "2007-07-08T21:46:58Z")
Rice crispies? Look like dust? I’m afraid I haven’t the foggiest notion what you’re describing, and I’ve seen my share of fireworks. Can you describe them in more detail? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Public\_Animal\_No.9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Public\_Animal\_No.9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Public_Animal_No.9)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2007, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-crunchy-fireworks-how/410953/4 "2007-07-08T22:26:42Z")
[QUOTE=Jinx] You know those fireworks that look like dust and fizzle out all at once like rice crispies? They fizzle out quite loudly, I may add. What makes them fizzle instead of pop? [/QUOTE] Are you referring to the ones that burst, then sort of hang there for a second or two, then the starburst trails all give a secondary pop, but much smaller? I think there would need to be some sort of internal fuse that lights during the initial burst, then sets off the smaller bursts a pre-set time after the initial. Sort of like little bomblets. ---
**Author:** ![Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enter_the_Flagon)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-crunchy-fireworks-how/410953/5 "2007-07-09T00:59:28Z")
[QUOTE=Public Animal No. 9] Are you referring to the ones that burst, then sort of hang there for a second or two, then the starburst trails all give a secondary pop, but much smaller? I think there would need to be some sort of internal fuse that lights during the initial burst, then sets off the smaller bursts a pre-set time after the initial. Sort of like little bomblets. [/QUOTE] Sounds right to me. I think we’re looking at dozens, if not hundreds, of tiny bomblets going off at once. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-crunchy-fireworks-how/410953/6 "2007-07-09T02:04:21Z")
If you’re thinking of the ones I’m thinking of, more people probably describe the sound as like frying or sizzling bacon. That may give you something to search on. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-crunchy-fireworks-how/410953/7 "2007-07-09T02:15:42Z")
[QUOTE=Public Animal No. 9] Are you referring to the ones that burst, then sort of hang there for a second or two, then the starburst trails all give a secondary pop, but much smaller? I think there would need to be some sort of internal fuse that lights during the initial burst, then sets off the smaller bursts a pre-set time after the initial. Sort of like little bomblets. [/QUOTE] I think the OP is describing a different kind of firework. The ones, as another poster has pointed out, that can be described to “sizzle”. I think of it as crackling too though. They are also sort of “glittery”. Maybe the gunpowder is mixed with something to make it crackle instead of “boom”? ETA: By glittery I mean, they have a more continous sparkle as the crackling occurs, not _boom_ _fade_ _pop pop pop_ ---
**Author:** ![SailedTheOceanBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85f322/32.png) [@SailedTheOceanBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SailedTheOceanBlue)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-crunchy-fireworks-how/410953/8 "2007-07-09T04:07:10Z")
I believe the name you’re looking for is “Crossette”. Check out this You Tube video, about 45 seconds in. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dg0P3nYiKxg](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dg0P3nYiKxg) ---
**Author:** ![RetroVertigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@RetroVertigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RetroVertigo)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-crunchy-fireworks-how/410953/9 "2007-07-09T05:45:24Z")
I think those are called a [Dragon’s Egg](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkrtv3UsPf8).\* the crackling according to [wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon%27s_eggs) is produced by either bismuth trioxide or Bismuth subcarbonate. - I knew working at that fireworks tent would payoff someday. ---
**Author:** ![RetroVertigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@RetroVertigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RetroVertigo)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-crunchy-fireworks-how/410953/10 "2007-07-09T06:23:18Z")
Sorry. I forgot to mention the previous post links to a Youtube video . :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2007, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-crunchy-fireworks-how/410953/11 "2007-07-10T06:49:35Z")
[QUOTE=RetroVertigo] I think those are called a [Dragon’s Egg](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkrtv3UsPf8).\* the crackling according to [wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon%27s_eggs) is produced by either bismuth trioxide or Bismuth subcarbonate. - I knew working at that fireworks tent would payoff someday. [/QUOTE] Yeah, the Dragon’s Egg effect was what I was describing.