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The Pyrotechnic Stoichiometry Calculator allows you to calculate the optimum fuel-to-oxidiser ratios for a variety of pyrotechnic mixtures. The calculator is intended as a tool for educators and hobbyists, and allows for many of the classic demonstration experiments, incluing the thermite reaction, and the chlorate-sugar reaction.


Safety Notice

Making pyrotechnic compositions is extremely dangerous. None of the chemicals listed on this website should be used without a full and thorough understanding of their properties. The manufacture of any pyrotechnic composition should only attempted by an expert. The Pyrotechnic Stoichiometry Calculator is intended as a tool for those who are proficient in chemistry (for whom the calculations made are elementary but long winded). It is not suitable as an instructional article.


Limitations

The calculator does not determine whether a reaction is thermodynamically or kinetically possible. It assumes that the fuel and oxidiser are completely converted to their respective oxidisation and reduction products, regardless of whether such reactions would occur for the given composition. It also assumes that the idealised reduction and oxidisation products are the end products of the reaction, whereas in reality, different products may be produced. Furthermore, some reagents are oxidised or reduced to different extents, depending on what they react with. In such cases, the appropriate reaction for a given composition must be selected.


Calculate

Select Fuel

Aluminium (2Al + 3[O] = Al2O3)

Antimony (2Sb + 3[O] = Sb2O3)

Antimony Trisulphide (Sb2S3 + 9[O] = Sb2O3 + 3SO2)

Carbon (C + 2[O] = CO2)

Dextrin (C6H10O5 (approx.) + 12[O] = 6CO2 + 5H2O)

Dextrose (C6H12O6 + 12[O] = 6CO2 + 6H2O)

Glycerol (C3H5(OH)3 + 7[O] = 3CO2 + 4H2O)

Hexamine (C6H12N4 + 18[O] = 6CO2 + 2N2 + 6H2O)

Iron (2Fe + 3[O] = Fe2O3)

Lactose (C12H22O11 + 24[O] = 12CO2 + 11H2O)

Magnesium (Mg + [O] = MgO)

Manganese (Mn + 2[O] = MnO2)

Paraffin Wax (CH2 (approx.) + 3[O] = CO2 + H2O)

Parlon (C2H3Cl (approx.) + 5[O] = 2CO2 + H2O + HCl)

PVC (C2H3Cl (approx.) + 5[O] = 2CO2 + H2O + HCl)

Phosphorus (2P + 5[O] = P2O5)

Potassium Benzoate (2C6H5COOK + 30[O] = 14CO2 + 5H2O + K2O)

Shellac (C16H26O4 (approx.) + 41[O] = 16CO2 + 13H2O)

Silicon (Si + 2[O] = SiO2)

Sodium Benzoate (2C6H5COONa + 30[O] = 14CO2 + 5H2O + Na2O)

Sucrose (C12H22O11 + 24[O] = 12CO2 + 11H2O)

Sulphur (S8 + 16[O] = 8SO2)

Titanium (Ti + 2[O] = TiO2)

Zinc (Zn + [O] = ZnO)

Zirconium (Zr + 2[O] = ZrO2)


Select Oxidiser

Ammonium Nitrate (NH4NO3 = N2 + 2H2O + [O])

Ammonium Perchlorate (2NH4ClO4 = 2HCl + N2 + 3H2O + 5[O])

Barium Chlorate (Ba(ClO3)2 = BaCl2 + 6[O])

Barium Nitrate (Ba(NO3)2 = BaO + N2 + 5[O])

Barium Peroxide (BaO2 = BaO + [O])

Barium Sulphate (BaSO4 = BaS + 4[O])

Calcium Nitrate (Ca(NO3)2 = CaO + N2 + 5[O])

Calcium Sulphate (CaSO4 = CaS + 4[O])

Chromium(III) Oxide (Cr2O3 = 2Cr + 3[O])

Cobalt(II) Oxide (CoO = Co + [O])

Copper Nitrate (Cu(NO3)2 = CuO + N2 + 5[O])

Copper(II) Oxide (CuO = Cu + [O])

Iron(II,III) Oxide (Fe3O4 = 3Fe + 4[O])

Iron(III) Oxide (Fe2O3 = 2Fe + 3[O])

Lead(II,IV) Oxide (Pb3O4 = 3Pb + 4[O])

Lead(IV) Oxide (PbO2 = Pb + 2[O])

Manganese(IV) Oxide (MnO2 = Mn + 2[O])

Nickel(II) Oxide (NiO = Ni + [O])

Potassium Chlorate (KClO3 = KCl + 3[O])

Potassium Dichromate (K2Cr2O7 = K2O + Cr2O3 + 3[O])

Potassium Nitrate (2KNO3 = K2O + N2 + 5[O])

Potassium Perchlorate (KClO4 = KCl + 4[O])

Potassium Permanganate (2KMnO4 = K2O + Mn2O3 + 4[O])

Potassium Permanganate (6KMnO4 = 3K2O + 2Mn3O4 + 13[O])

Potassium Permanganate (2KMnO4 = K2O + 2MnO2 + 3[O])

Sodium Chlorate (NaClO3 = NaCl + 3[O])

Sodium Nitrate (2NaNO3 = Na2O + N2 + 5[O])

Sodium Nitrite (2NaNO2 = Na2O + N2 + 3[O])

Sodium Perchlorate (NaClO4 = NaCl + 4[O])

Strontium Nitrate (Sr(NO3)2 = SrO + N2 + 5[O])

Strontium Sulphate (SrSO4 = SrS + 4[O])

Tin(IV) Oxide (SnO2 = Sn + 2[O])

Vanadium(V) Oxide (V2O5 = 2V + 5[O])

Zinc Oxide (ZnO = Zn + [O])