Here's how the conclave creates black and white smoke and why the Catholic Church began using them to signal whether a new pope has been elected.

Potassium chlorate includes one fewer atom of oxygen per molecule than the potassium perchlorate used in black smoke and is an even stronger oxidizer—so strong it’s dangerous to use with ...

For black smoke, the Vatican uses a mixture of potassium perchlorate, anthracene, and sulphur. The white smoke used to signal that a Pope has been chosen is created from potassium chlorate ...

The white smoke is produced by mixing potassium chlorate (a similar compound to potassium perchlorate, used in fireworks and smoke bombs), lactose (the sugar found in cow’s milk), and rosin (a ...

Stoves have been installed in the Sistine Chapel that will generate smoke, marking the progress of the conclave's mission to choose a new pope.

During last conclave in 2013, which ended in the election of Pope Francis, the black smoke was a mixture of potassium perchlorate, anthracene (a component of coal tar) and sulfur.

If no pope is chosen, the ballots are mixed with cartridges containing potassium perchlorate, anthracene (a component of coal tar) and sulfur to produce black smoke.

If no pope is chosen, the ballots are mixed with cartridges containing potassium perchlorate, anthracene (a component of coal tar) and sulfur to produce black smoke.

Potassium chlorate includes one fewer atom of oxygen per molecule than the potassium perchlorate used in black smoke and is an even stronger oxidizer—so strong it’s dangerous to use with ...

The white smoke is produced by mixing potassium chlorate (a similar compound to potassium perchlorate, used in fireworks and smoke bombs), lactose (the sugar found in cow’s milk), and rosin (a ...

If no pope is chosen, the ballots are mixed with cartridges containing potassium perchlorate, anthracene (a component of coal tar) and sulfur to produce black smoke.

If no pope is chosen, the ballots are mixed with cartridges containing potassium perchlorate, anthracene (a component of coal tar) and sulfur to produce black smoke.