Which functional groups in chemicals are primarily responsible for producing different colors in fireworks?

• A. Alkene groups in organic molecules
• B. Carboxyl groups in acids
• C. Metal ions such as Sr^{2+}, Ba^{2+}, and Cu^{2+} in compounds
• D. Amino groups in proteins

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that the colors in fireworks are produced by the emission of light at specific wavelengths when certain substances are heated.
2. Recognize that functional groups like alkene, carboxyl, and amino groups are organic groups that typically do not produce characteristic colors in fireworks.
3. Identify that metal ions such as \(\mathrm{Sr^{2+}}\), \(\mathrm{Ba^{2+}}\), and \(\mathrm{Cu^{2+}}\) are responsible for the colors because their electrons get excited to higher energy levels and emit light of specific colors when they return to lower energy states.
4. Recall that different metal ions emit different colors: for example, \(\mathrm{Sr^{2+}}\) produces red, \(\mathrm{Ba^{2+}}\) produces green, and \(\mathrm{Cu^{2+}}\) produces blue colors in fireworks.
5. Conclude that the primary contributors to the colors in fireworks are metal ions in compounds, not organic functional groups.