Debate about smoke from Sistine Chapel

[James_2:24]

Okay, here at work we are having a little debate here about the smoke coming out of the Sistine Chapel.

The debate is:

What makes the smoke white? and what makes the smoke black?

for Black, we have answers of:

Chemicals
Styrofoam (sp?)
Straw

for white, we have:

??????


thanks!

[pprimeau1976]

If you burn wet wood, you get white smoke. Maybe they douse wood with water?

[Tantum ergo]

I am told that they mix chemicals in with the ballots (which are burned); one chemical compound produces white smoke and another black.

[Scott_Lafrance]

Originally Posted by pprimeau1976

If you burn wet wood, you get white smoke. Maybe they douse wood with water?

Wet straw produces black smoke, dry straw produces white smoke. Nothing complicated.

[chicago]

They used chemicals this time. In the past they used straw. From the looks of things, they'll have to continue to tweak the process in the future.

[chicago]

They used chemicals this time. In the past they used straw. From the looks of things, they'll have to continue to tweak the process in the future.