making black smoke

[R.G.Y.]

Well the Vatican can make black smoke Eddy. Do you think they will tell us the secrete. Geoff

[Eddy Matthews]

I'll send off a quick email to the new pope once he's elected Geoff.... I'll let you know if it works!

Regards
Eddy

[Harold H. Duncan]

Just from memory, I don't think you'd want to know how they do it in the Vatican. Definitely not for model boats. But will have to check before I say more.
cheers
kiwi

[Chris Harding]

Unfortunately I have been a lapse catholic for most of my life (I enjoy the bad things too much), but this may help.
 The black smoke is created by an electronic device. This mixes certain chemical compounds to create the coloured smoke. For black smoke this should be a mixture of potassium perchlorate, anthracene and sulphur..... I am no chemist, but over 20 years at UCL doing the occasional quiz nights may have paid off.....If I am wrong, I will do a suitable penance, suggestions on a postcard.

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's..... ..... I am not of this particular faith so can only go on reports

According to an OZ reporter stationed @ the Vatican gates  a few days back  ...it is chemical [powder] that is added to the exhaust gas being discharged from the cast iron pot belly wood burner stove....... .......Derek

[derekwarner_decoy]

Chris.....I think your chemical composition may be for the light GREY smoke....certainly not the BLACK version

potassium perchlorate is the inorganic salt with the chemical formula KClO4. Like other perchlorates, this salt is a strong oxidizer and potentially reacts with many organic substances. This usually obtained as a colorless, crystalline solid is a common oxidizer used in fireworks, ammunition percussion caps, explosive primers, and is used variously in propellants, flash compositions, stars, and sparklers courtesy of Wiki

anthracene ...from memory was clean burning coal used in WW11 when a war ship was in waters where visable smoke was a no-no

sulphur ...burns with a dense yellowish smoke........I know this as when a second year chemistry student I mixed zinc powder + potasium permangate + sulphur & ended up in hospital with 2nd degree burns to face & arms........ ...& most of my hair burnt off.........Derek

[Chris Harding]

Derek....you may well be right. We did have a whiteish smoke burning coal on HMS Tiger. But I was always up on the weapons systems GDR room at the time so don,t actually know the chemical mechanics involved.
At this time of night my memory banks start to shut down (and hopefully my brain so I can sleep)..... hope your hair grew back.

[Harold H. Duncan]

Hi folks

Here we go.

Anthracene is one of the three components (the other two being potassium perchlorate and sulfur) which are used to produce the black smoke released during a Papal Conclave.

Anthracene is a component of coal tar.

Derek, the clean burning smokeless coal used in ships is Anthracite (hard coal) which ignites with difficulty and burns with a short, blue, and smokeless flame.
The term is applied to those varieties of coal which do not give off tarry or other hydrocarbon vapours when heated below their point of ignition

cheers
kiwi

[R.G.Y.]

Well now EDDY I have the formula I just have to find space in the boat for a wood burning stove. Then it will look like a proper coal fired paddler. Geoff PS Nice to know your still looking Derek.