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
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