US EditionPope Election: The Chemistry Behind The Black And White Smoke
- One hundred thirty-three cardinals gathered in the Vatican this week to elect a new pope in a conclave held inside the Sistine Chapel.
- The practice of burning ballots for confidentiality began in the 15th century and developed further in the 18th century when a chimney was added to the Sistine Chapel to prevent damage to Michelangelo’s frescoes.
- Black smoke, created from burning ballots with potassium perchlorate, anthracene, and sulfur, signals no two-thirds majority, while white smoke from potassium chlorate, lactose, and rosin marks a pope’s election.
- In 2013, the Vatican confirmed these specific chemical recipes and explained black smoke signals inconclusive votes and white smoke announces the successful election of a new pope.
- These smoke signals remain the only communication with the outside world during the conclave, indicating ongoing voting until a candidate achieves a two-thirds majority.
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Election of the new pope: you are told how black or white smoke is conceived that announces the outcome of a vote by the conclave
Since Wednesday, the chimney of the Sistine Chapel emits smoke at the end of each vote of the cardinal voters. If it comes out dark, it means that they have not yet managed to agree. If it is white, the 267th pontiff sovereign has been elected.
·Strasbourg, France
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El UniversoReposted by 
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pnt.clThe complex process of creating black or white smoke during the conclave and why the Vatican does not want to simplify it
When the Catholic Church elects a new Pope, the world is not watching a press conference or a publication on social networks, but the smoke coming out of a small chimney on top of the Sistine Chapel.
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Total News Sources35
Leaning Left4Leaning Right5Center8Last UpdatedBias Distribution47% Center
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47% Center
L 24%
C 47%
R 29%
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