How to Make White Smoke

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Smoke colors change depending upon the substances that are being burned. To make white smoke, burn hydrogen-rich sources. This will produce a smoke full of steam. You can make white smoke at home with a few simple experiments. If you are a child, make sure you do this with adult supervision.

Things You Should Know

  • Burn rolled-up white printer paper over a bucket and watch the smoke rise.
  • Or, soak a sheet of newspaper in ammonium nitrate and water, roll up the paper, and light one end of the paper.
  • Burn dry foil in a fire pit before covering with wet foliage—then, wait for smoke to rise.
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Using Paper For White Smoke

PDF download Download Article
  1. For this experiment, you will need a large bucket, such as one that holds 10 gallons (38 l). You will need water. You will need a lighter, a pack of matches, or a fire igniter. Finally, you will need 5-10 pieces of plain printer paper.
  2. Fill your large bucket with water and place it outside. Make sure it is not located near wood, paper, dry grass, or other flammable material. For example, a driveway, parking lot, or gravel alley may be the most fire-safe place to complete this experiment.
    Advertisement
  3. Stack several pieces of white printer paper on top of each other. Roll them up as tightly as you can into a single tube. If you wish, you may secure them at one end with a rubber band 3/4 of the way down the tube. You can hold the tube below the rubberband. [1]
    • For peak scientific precision, use a pencil to mark the quarter and halfway points along the tube. This will show you how much of the tube to burn.
  4. Hold your paper tube by its rubber-banded end over the bucket of water. Light the end that is furthest from you. You should see flame, but no smoke. Allow it to burn into a quarter or a half of the paper has burned away, then gently blow it out. [2]
    • Watch out for stray bits of paper. If you see any, stamp on them or drip water on them so that no fires start.
  5. After you have blown out the fire, your tube should give off white smoke for a minute or so. The white smoke is the result of burning cellulose that releases water droplets and unburned fuel from the paper.
  6. You may burn it and blow it out until you are satisfied. Do not burn the paper once you can no longer hold it below the rubber band. Drop the paper in the water bucket before it gets too close to your hand.
    • Make sure to soak the paper in water when you're done with it to avoid starting a fire.
    • To produce black smoke, burn the end with the rubber band. It will smell horrible.
    7. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Building a Smoke Bomb

PDF download Download Article
  1. You will need 40 g of ammonium nitrate. You can buy this online, or you can buy a cold pack and cut it open. Gather newspaper, water, and a metal bucket or pan of any size. You will also need rubber gloves. [3]
    • If using a cold pack, make sure to get one that contains pure ammonium nitrate rather than a substitute material such as urea.
  2. If using purchased ammonium nitrate powder, pour it into the pan. If you are getting your ammonium nitrate from a cold pack, cut open carefully at one end, discard the packet of water, and remove the packet of ammonium nitrate. Pour the granules into your bucket or large pan. [4]
    • If the water pack breaks, you will use up the chemical properties of your ammonium nitrate and will need to use a different pack for the experiment.
    • Gloves should protect your skin from ammonium nitrate's toxicity. If you do get any on your skin, halt your experiment and wash your skin thoroughly with water.
  3. Watch them dissolve. Don't add extra water unless they aren't dissolving, as you want the mixture to be as concentrated as possible. [5]
  4. Take a sheet and dip it into the solution for half a minute so it absorbs the liquid. Remove it gently and lay it out to dry. [6]
    • Soak individual sheets until all the solution is absorbed.
    • Drying may take several hours.
  5. Once your newspaper is dry, roll it up as tightly as possible. Secure it with tape or string. This is your smoke bomb. [7]
    • You can make several small smoke bombs with individual sheets of paper, or one large smoke bomb that will last longer.
  6. Pick a parking lot, gravel lot, or large driveway. Bring a bucket of plain water with you to douse any potential fires. Light one edge of your smoke bomb, and step back several feet immediately. [8]
    • The flame should burn slowly and should not be visible through the smoke.
    • Douse it in water when you are finished.
    7. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Creating a White Signal Fire

PDF download Download Article
  1. Light a fire in a fire pit, barrel or campfire location. If your fire is on or in the ground, clear brush and debris from the site. Choose a spot that is downwind and is at least 15 feet from your belongings.
    • Make sure there is water and a fire extinguisher nearby so that you can douse a runaway fire.
    • Don't build a signal fire unless you are actually in need of help!
  2. Gather dried out fallen tree limbs and dry twigs. You will want larger logs and branches for fuel, large twigs for kindling, and small twigs for tinder. Gather dead wood that is thoroughly dry. Tinder can also be made of wadded up paper, bits of wax, strips of cardboard, or wood shavings.
    • For wet foliage, gather leaves, weeds, and grass. If they are not damp, pour a few cups of water along them.
  3. Loosely pile the fuel logs at the bottom of your firepit. Stack kindling on top in a tipi, cross, or square "cabin" shape. Don't pack too much in—there should be air between the branches. Add kindling to the top and light with a match or lighter.
    • Add more tinder as the fire goes.
    • Blow gently at the base of the fire to encourage it.
    • When you have strong fire, you can add more kindling or fuel to keep it going.
  4. Once your fire has been going for a while, and shows no sign of stopping, dump the wet foliage on it. Step back several feet and admire the results: a tall plume of billowing white smoke.
    • If you do this in a remote location, you may attract rescuers.
    • Alternatively, add a paper bag of wet straw. You'll get a smaller but longer-lasting plume.
    • Douse the fire thoroughly with water when you are done. Check on it after the steam clears to make sure it isn't still burning, sparking, or smoking.
    5. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      Things You'll Need

      • Matches/igniter
      • Water
      • Fire extinguisher
      • Rubber band (optional)

      Using Paper For White Smoke

      • Buckets
      • White paper

      Building a Smoke Bomb

      • Ammonium nitrate (cold pack)
      • Rubber gloves

      Creating a White Signal Fire

      • Straw, leaves, grass
      • Fire pit or campfire
      • Paper bag (optional)

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Make Distilled Water
      How to
      Check Water Temperature Without a Thermometer
      19 of the Rarest Wonders from around the World
      How to
      Spot Fake Gold Quickly & Easily
      How to
      Create a School Project on the Layers of the Earth: 3 Fun Ideas
      How to
      Soften Rubber
      Colors: How Many Are There & How Do You See Them?
      How to
      Study for a Science Exam
      How to
      Magnetize Metal
      How to
      Make a Hologram
      How to
      Create Agar
      How to
      Make a Model of the Earth
      How to
      Calculate Distance
      How to
      Become a Scientist
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://thehappyscientist.com/content/science-papal-smoke-colors
      2. ↑ https://thehappyscientist.com/content/science-papal-smoke-colors
      3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93dTuREjNCM
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93dTuREjNCM
      5. ↑ http://sciencenotes.org/how-to-make-a-smoke-bomb-without-potassium-nitrate-or-ping-pong-balls/
      6. ↑ http://sciencenotes.org/how-to-make-a-smoke-bomb-without-potassium-nitrate-or-ping-pong-balls/
      7. ↑ http://sciencenotes.org/how-to-make-a-smoke-bomb-without-potassium-nitrate-or-ping-pong-balls/
      8. ↑ http://sciencenotes.org/how-to-make-a-smoke-bomb-without-potassium-nitrate-or-ping-pong-balls/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      Making white smoke is a cool science experiment you can do at home. All you need is a large bucket filled with water, a lighter, a pack of matches, and white printer paper. You’ll need to roll the paper into a tight tube and hold it over the bucket. You can use a rubber band to hold the paper together if you want. Head outside and light your rolled-up paper over the bucket of water in case you need to put the flame out. Burn the paper until less than half of it’s left, then blow the flame out. You should see white smoke rising from the leftover paper. This is the result of burning cellulose that releases water droplets and unburned fuel from the paper. You can repeat the experiment as many times as you like. For more tips from our Science co-author, including how to make a white signal fire, read on!

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 140,241 times.
      If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission .

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement