Final answer:
Magnesium is widely used in flares and flashbulbs due to its bright white light when ignited. Strontium and barium are also used in pyrotechnics for their red and green colors, respectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
The metallic element commonly used in flares and flashbulbs is magnesium. When magnesium is ignited, it burns with a bright white light, which is ideal for illumination purposes, such as in flares and photography flashbulbs. This phenomenon occurs due to magnesium's ability to oxidize quickly in the air, producing intense visible light and heat in the process.
In addition to magnesium, other metals like aluminum and compounds containing strontium and barium are also used in pyrotechnics to produce different colors. Strontium compounds produce shades of red, whereas barium compounds give a green color, both often seen in fireworks displays.
While krypton and xenon are not metallic, they are used in flash photography within krypton-xenon flash tubes, which offer intense, short-duration lighting. The electric discharge through such a tube emits light that can freeze motion in high-speed photographs.