Party Popper

celebrations · mini explosions · party fun

Tiny explosion inside. Party poppers use a super small amount of explosive stuff called Armstrong's mixture, less than the weight of a grain of rice. This tiny charge goes off when you pull the string and creates that awesome popping sound.

Confetti flies out. When the explosive charge fires, it blows confetti and streamers out of the popper fast and high. The streamers are made to be non-flammable so they're safe to play with after the pop.

How it works. Inside the popper's bottle-like shape, there is a friction-activated charge in the neck. Pulling the string creates friction that ignites the tiny explosive, which then shoots everything out with a bang.

Air-powered version. Some party poppers use compressed air instead of an explosive charge to push out the confetti. These are even safer because there's no chemical explosion involved, just pressurized air doing the work.

Chemical mixture. The explosive charge is made from red phosphorus mixed with strong oxidizers like potassium chlorate. Scientists designed these chemicals to create a pop that's loud but totally safe for party fun.