Scribd
Upload
26 views1 page

The Chemistry of Pope Smoke

The Papal Conclave uses smoke signals to indicate the selection of a new Pope, with black smoke signifying no decision and white smoke indicating a choice has been made. Black smoke is produced using a mixture of potassium perchlorate, anthracene, and sulfur, while white smoke is created from potassium chlorate, lactose, and rosin. The document details the chemical components and their roles in the combustion process for both smoke colors.

Uploaded by

kingoftheboys83
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
26 views1 page

The Chemistry of Pope Smoke

The Papal Conclave uses smoke signals to indicate the selection of a new Pope, with black smoke signifying no decision and white smoke indicating a choice has been made. Black smoke is produced using a mixture of potassium perchlorate, anthracene, and sulfur, while white smoke is created from potassium chlorate, lactose, and rosin. The document details the chemical components and their roles in the combustion process for both smoke colors.

Uploaded by

kingoftheboys83
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 1

Papal Conclave smoke recipes Ci

When the Papal Conclave assembles to select a new Pope, smoke from the burning of the cardinals' ballots
indicates the result. Black smoke indicates no new Pope; white smoke indicates a decision has been made.

Black smoke Historically, the conclave generated black smoke by burning


tar or pitch with the ballots. Today, they use a mixture of
potassium perchlorate, anthracene and sulfur.

KClO4 S8
Potassium perchlorate Anthracene Sulfur

Provides oxygen for Produces soot Increases the


combustion when burnt burning rate

White smoke In the past, the conclave added wet straw to the burning
ballots to generate white smoke. Today, they use a mixture of
potassium chlorate, lactose and rosin (pine tree resin).

OH OH
OH

KClO3 HO
O

OH
HO
O
OH
O
OH

Potassium chlorate Lactose Rosin

Provides oxygen for Acts as a fuel Produces thick


combustion for burning white smoke

www.compoundchem.com © Andy Brunning/Compound Interest 2025 | Creative Commons BY-NC-ND licence. BY NC ND

You might also like