Greek Fire

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://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Liquid_fire_granades_Chania.jpg http://www.ask.com/wiki/List_of_Byzantine_inventions

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 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_peter http://0.tqn.com/d/chemistry/1/0/2/f/potassiumnitate.jpg

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

Greek Fire

Greek Fire

Presentation Transcript

Greek Philosophy

Greek Literature

Greek Pottery

Greek Pottery

Greek Mythology The Greek Heroes

Greek Monsters

Greek Mythology

Greek Architecture

Greek Mythology

Greek

Fire Safety at Rensselaer Greek Life

Greek

Common Greek West Greek East Greek

Greek Philosophies Greek Theater

Greek name

Greek religion

Greek gods

Greek Meze | Greek-e-foodmarket

Fire rips through Greek migrant camp

Greek Mythology

Greek Mythology & Greek Contributions

Greek Fire

Greek Fire

Presentation Transcript

Greek Philosophy

Greek Literature

Greek Pottery

Greek Pottery

Greek Mythology The Greek Heroes

Greek Monsters

Greek Mythology

Greek Architecture

Greek Mythology

Greek

Fire Safety at Rensselaer Greek Life

Greek

Common Greek West Greek East Greek

Greek Philosophies Greek Theater

Greek name

Greek religion

Greek gods

Greek Meze | Greek-e-foodmarket

Fire rips through Greek migrant camp

Greek Mythology

Greek Mythology &amp; Greek Contributions

Greek Mythology & Greek Contributions