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.

What does the white smoke mean during the conclave? There are multiple voting rounds during a papal conclave. A pope is elected when a candidate receives a two-thirds majority of the votes.

In the afternoon, smoke may appear around 1 p.m. Eastern, 7 p.m. Vatican time if no decision is made. If a pope is elected on the first afternoon ballot, look for white smoke shortly after 11:30 a ...

Black smoke is pouring out of the Sistine Chapel chimney, indicating no pope was elected on the first ballot of the conclave to choose a new leader of the Catholic Church.

Potassium chlorate (KClO₃) — even more reactive than perchlorate — ensures a hot, vigorous burn. Lactose acts as the fuel, burning quickly and cleanly into water vapour and carbon dioxide.

A mix of potassium perchlorate, sulphur and anthracene – found in coal tar – is used to turn the smoke black, while potassium chlorate, lactose and pine rosin is used to make it white.

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 ...

unbranded - Newsworthy. The Vatican's Smoke Signal: Explained. Posted: May 7, 2025 | Last updated: May 7, 2025. The Vatican’s age-old tradition of using smoke signals to announce the outcome of ...

Potassium chlorate (KClO₃)—even more reactive than perchlorate—ensures a hot, vigorous burn. Lactose acts as the fuel, burning quickly and cleanly into water vapor and carbon dioxide.

What does the white and black smoke mean during the conclave? There are multiple voting rounds during a papal conclave. A pope is elected when a candidate receives a two-thirds majority of the votes.

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 ...

Following the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, the conclave is set to commence today (May 7) to begin the papal selection process and choose a new leader of the global Church.. The famously ...