Fuck you, writing project lore dump
For the first few decades after the Manafall, Char rounds, a common fire spell, were made of a solid mixture of charcoal and sulfur along with thermally charged Mana. An in correct ratio of Carbon could lead to the spell being incorrectly dampened and a misfire occurring.
However later on, liquid rounds were invented. Pyronols, a type of Mana charge Alcohol chemical that allowed for more incendiary attacks that don't require carbon dampening.
Liquid rounds are all fire and no smoke. They don't misfire nearly as much if used in a properly sealed catalyst.
Being used in the wrong catalyst creates the iconic "flaming revolver chamber" effect that many still see as the picture of the old west.
Liquid rounds are harder to maintain over long periods of time and distance both due to evaporation and because of desperate soldiers using them to spike their own drinks
Wether or not the Pyronol equivalent still counts as Char or an entirely new spell is hotly debated among sorcerers and alchemists.