The Vatican produces white smoke during a papal conclave by burning the ballots together with a specific chemical mixture designed to create a bright, white plume. The chemicals used include potassium chlorate, lactose (milk sugar), and pine resin (also called rosin or Greek pitch). This combination acts as a smoke bomb: potassium chlorate serves as a strong oxidizer, lactose as the fuel, and pine resin produces thick white smoke by releasing tiny droplets and light-colored ash when heated. The resulting smoke is mostly water vapor and fine particles that appear white, signaling that a new pope has been elected
. The process involves burning the ballots in a special iron stove inside the Sistine Chapel. Since 2005, the Vatican has used a second, modern stove with cartridges containing these chemicals to ensure the smoke color is clear and unmistakable. The white smoke lasts about seven minutes and is visible to the crowds gathered outside and viewers worldwide
. In summary, the white smoke is created chemically by:
- Burning ballots in a stove
- Adding potassium chlorate (oxidizer), lactose (fuel), and pine resin (smoke producer)
- Producing a dense, white smoke made of water vapor and fine particles signaling the election of a new pope
