Greek Fire Wyatt Self

History of Greek Fire Possible inventor Kallinikos Byzantine Empire approx. 7 th century Common use naval warfare Deployed by siphons and grenades

General Information Could not be put out by water Burnt on top of underwater Lit by water or other flame Some sources say it explodes on impact Extremely sticky

Possible Formula sulfur, sarcocolla, pitch, melted saltpeter, petroleum oil(naphtha) sticky burn on water burn underwater explodes on impact ignited by water

Potassium Nitrate(Saltpeter) Oxidizer in gunpowder ( Potassium Nitrate after buring) 2 KNO3 → 2 KNO2 + O2

LEIDENFROST EFFECT Water makes a bubble around objects over 220 degrees Celsius

Quicklime(Calcium Oxide Quicklime added to first formula Heats to 150 degrees Celsius upon contact with water CaO + H 2 O → Ca(OH) 2 Calcium hydroxide CaO (s) + H2O (l) is in equilibrium with Ca(OH)2 (aq) (ΔHr = −63.7 kJ/mol of CaO)

Other Additions Magnesium Magnesium burns at 3100 degrees Celsius Burns underwater

Breakdown of Components Sticky- Pitches and resins Burns on top of water- Low density of oil Ignited by water- Calcium oxide reaction Underwater burning- Possibly Leidenfrost Effect or magnesium Ignition on impact- No possible compounds available to ancient Greeks were found

Bibliography "Calcium Oxide." n.pag. Strategic Services Division. Web. 13 Nov "Greek Fire." n.pag. Middle Ages Website. Web. 12 Nov "Greek Fire and Gunpowder." Math & Science Footnotes for Khan Amore’s Hypatia n.pag. Web. 12 Nov Homes-Farley, Randy. "A Simplified Guide to the Relationship Between Calcium, Alkalinity, Magnesium and pH." n.pag. Reefkeeping. Web. 13 Nov "List of Byzantine inventions." 04 Nov n.pag. Wikipedia. Web. 11 Nov Provatas, Nikolaos. "Greek Fire." Hellenism in the Middle Ages 29 Nov n.pag. Web. 12 Nov "Potassium Nitrate or Saltpeter." n.pag. About.com. Web. 12 Nov WALKER, JEARL. "Boiling and the Leidenfrost Effect." n.pag. Web. 12 Nov <