Britannica Sources used in this answer

Why is titanium tetrachloride used for skywriting and smoke screens?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

A periodic table element tile for titanium displays its atomic number 22, symbol Ti, atomic weight 47.867, electron configuration, and name. Icons indicate it is a solid, transition metal with a hexagonal crystal structure and equal relative strength. — titanium Properties of titanium.

Titanium tetrachloride ( ${TiCl}_{4}$ ) is used for skywriting and smoke screens because it fumes when it comes into contact with moist air. This reaction produces a dense, visible smoke, making the compound effective for these specific applications.12