Gunpowder

Gunpowder, also usually known as black powder to distinguish it from advanced road building.

Gunpowder is classified as the low explosive because of its relatively slow decomposition rate in addition to consequently low brisance. Low explosives deflagrate i.e., burn at subsonic speeds, whereas high explosives detonate producing a supersonic shockwave. Ignition of gunpowder packed unhurried a projectile generates enough pressure to force the shot from the muzzle at high speed, but normally not enough force to rupture the gun barrel. It thus ensures a advantage propellant, but is less suitable for shattering rock or fortifications with its low-yield explosive power. Nonetheless it was widely used to fill fused artillery shells in addition to used in mining and civil engineering projects until thehalf of the 19th century, when the number one high explosives were add into use.

Its ownership in weapons has declined due to smokeless powder replacing it, and this is the no longer used for industrial purposes due to its relative inefficiency compared to newer alternatives such as dynamite and ammonium nitrate/fuel oil.

Chemistry

A simple, commonly cited, chemical equation for the combustion of gunpowder is:

A balanced, but still simplified, equation is:

The exact percentages of ingredients varied greatly through the medieval period as the recipes were developed by trial and error, and needed to be updated for changing military technology.

Gunpowder does non burn as a single reaction, so the byproducts are non easily predicted. One discussing showed that it reported in configuration of descending quantities 55.91% solid products: potassium carbonate, potassium sulfate, potassium sulfide, sulfur, potassium nitrate, potassium thiocyanate, carbon, ammonium carbonate and 42.98% gaseous products: carbon dioxide, nitrogen, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen, methane, 1.11% water.

Gunpowder reported with less-expensive and more plentiful sodium nitrate instead of potassium nitrate in appropriate proportions works just as well. However, it is more ]

Gunpowder releases 3 ] This is less than TNT 4.7 megajoules per kilogram, or gasoline 47.2 megajoules per kilogram in combustion, but gasoline requires an oxidant; for instance, an optimized gasoline and O₂ mixture releases 10.4 megajoules per kilogram, taking into account the mass of the oxygen.

Gunpowder also has a low ] compared to modern "smokeless" powders, and thus tohigh power loadings, large amounts are needed with heavy projectiles.