Greek Fire

Wyatt Self

http://www.ask.com/wiki/List_of_Byzantine_inventions

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

http://www.ask.com/wiki/List_of_Byzantine_inventions

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Liquid_fire_granades_Chania.jpg

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

http://0.tqn.com/d/chemistry/1/0/2/f/potassiumnitate.jpg

(Potassium Nitrate after buring)2 KNO3 → 2 KNO2 + O2

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_peter

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 + H2O → Ca(OH)2 Calcium hydroxide

CaO (s) + H2O (l) is in equilibrium with Ca(OH)2 (aq) (ΔHr = −63.7 kJ/mol of CaO)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcium_oxide

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 2011.

<http://hazard.com/msds/mf/baker/baker/files/c0462.htm>.• "Greek Fire." n.pag. Middle Ages Website. Web. 12 Nov 2011. <http://www.middle-

ages.org.uk/greek-fire.htm>.• "Greek Fire and Gunpowder." Math & Science Footnotes for Khan Amore’s Hypatia 2002. n.pag.

Web. 12 Nov 2011. • <http://www.freepyroinfo.com/Pyrotechnic/Black_Powder/Section_10.pdf>.• Homes-Farley, Randy. "A Simplified Guide to the Relationship Between Calcium, Alkalinity,

Magnesium and pH." n.pag. Reefkeeping . Web. 13 Nov 2011. <http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-06/rhf/index.php>.

• "List of Byzantine inventions." 04 Nov 2011. n.pag. Wikipedia. Web. 11 Nov 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Byzantine_inventions>.

• Provatas, Nikolaos. "Greek Fire." Hellenism in the Middle Ages 29 Nov 2001. n.pag. Web. 12 Nov 2011. <http://www.greece.org/romiosini/greek_fire.html>.

• "Potassium Nitrate or Saltpeter." n.pag. About.com. Web. 12 Nov 2011. <http://0.tqn.com/d/chemistry/1/0/2/f/potassiumnitate.jpg>.

• WALKER, JEARL. "Boiling and the Leidenfrost Effect." n.pag. Web. 12 Nov 2011. <http://www.wiley.com/college/phy/halliday320005