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Gunpowder, also commonly known as black powder to distinguish it from modern smokeless powder, is the earliest known chemical explosive. It consists of a mixture of sulfur, charcoal (which is mostly carbon ), and potassium nitrate (saltpeter). The sulfur and charcoal act as fuels while the saltpeter is an oxidizer.
Jun 28, 2024 · gunpowder, any of several low-explosive mixtures used as propelling charges in guns and as blasting agents in mining. The first such explosive was black powder, which consists of a mixture of saltpetre (potassium nitrate), sulfur, and charcoal.
Gunpowder is the first explosive to have been developed. Popularly listed as one of the "Four Great Inventions" of China, it was invented during the late Tang dynasty (9th century) while the earliest recorded chemical formula for gunpowder dates to the Song dynasty (11th century).
Jun 6, 2019 · Gunpowder or black powder is of great historical importance in chemistry. Although it can explode, its principal use is as a propellant. Gunpowder was invented by Chinese alchemists in the 9th century. Originally, it was made by mixing elemental sulfur, charcoal, and saltpeter (potassium nitrate).
Nov 1, 2023 · Gunpowder changed the way in which we both built and destroyed. While its use as a weapon of war and the way in which it changed warfare is obvious, its impact on construction, mining, and entertainment should not be overlooked.
Feb 20, 2019 · Chinese alchemists were the major force behind the early invention of gunpowder. Learn about the early experiments that eventually led to the rocket.
Dec 13, 2023 · Gunpowder, a discovery that fundamentally altered the course of human history, was invented by Chinese alchemists during the Tang Dynasty, around the 9th century. This invention, initially an accidental byproduct of the quest for immortality, became a cornerstone in the evolution of warfare and subsequently, global power dynamics.
