Pyrotechnic chemistry drives the Vatican’s recipes for the black and white smoke used to announce papal election outcomes ...

Vatican firefighters were seen on the roof of the Sistine Chapel installing the chimney, a key moment in the preparation for ...

For black smoke, the Vatican uses a mixture of potassium perchlorate, anthracene, and sulphur. The white smoke used to signal ...

The conclave used a combination of potassium chlorate, lactose, and chloroform resin to create the white smoke. Once a candidate has received two-thirds of the cardinals' votes, the senior ...

Meanwhile, white smoke is produced using a much cleaner fuel mix and a more powerful oxidiser. Potassium chlorate (KClO₃) – even more reactive than perchlorate – ensures a hot, vigorous burn. Lactose ...

This selection comes after two days of conclave in the Sistine Chapel, tying the modern record for the fastest selection of a pope.

And if a new pope has been elected, potassium chlorate, lactose and chloroform resin would be added to produce white smoke. Has a pope ever been elected on the first ballot? It is possible for a ...

anthracene, and sulfur. White smoke is created by burning ballots with a mixture of potassium chlorate, lactose, and rosin.

For white smoke, a cartridge of potassium chlorate, lactose and chloroform resin is burned with the ballots. Bells also are rung to signal the election of a pope, for further clarity. The new pope ...

For white smoke, the Vatican says it used to use wet straw, but to make it a more pure color, instead of a confusing grey, they use potassium chlorate, lactose and a tree or bush resin called ...

But if there is a winner, the burning ballots are mixed with potassium chlorate, lactose and chloroform resin to produce the white smoke. The white smoke came out of the chimney on the fifth ...