what makes the white smoke at the vatican

The white smoke at the Vatican is produced during a papal conclave to signal that the cardinals have successfully elected a new pope. This smoke comes from burning the ballots and notes used by the cardinals in a special stove inside the Sistine Chapel. To create the distinctive white color, chemical additives are mixed with the burning ballots. The current white smoke formula includes potassium chlorate, lactose (milk sugar), and pine resin (rosin), which produce a dense fog of water vapor and pale visible smoke. The pine resin contributes to the white hue by releasing water vapor and oxygen-containing hydrocarbons during combustion, creating a thick white smoke that is clearly visible to observers outside the chapel. This method replaced older techniques that used wet straw, which often produced ambiguous gray smoke. The white smoke signals that a two-thirds majority has been reached and a new pope has been chosen, prompting celebrations among onlookers