why with the saltpeter sugar smoke bombs everyone says you have to melt them together but it works fine just in a powder does it make a difference at all and instead of melting it couldnt you just buy some carmel and mix it together or does it have to do with heating the saltpeter

ive a feeling the purpose of melting them together is to create a more spread out and well mixed ratio, and caramel would make it more difficult to burn, as the caramel would most likely stiffle any flame of any sort, preventing the smoke from being created...unless by mixing them you create a different chemical formula, but i dont believe that to be the case, as i believe that's what happens when you burn it...

melting the two together would allow them to mix more thoroughly, and to allow you to mold it, and so forth.....plus, powders are harder to light...usually...

(again: i dont know any of this shit for sure, it's all logical opinions i made in sudden thoughts..it's not my fault if you get hurt/die)