Gunpowder

by Will Simons

Beginnings

• Gunpowder was first created by Chinese alchemists in China near 850 AD.

 • Created as a result of Chinese

quest for an elixir of life. • Primarily used for fireworks until

904 AD. • Saw first military use in rocket

propelled arrows. •  First used against Mongolians.

 

Early hand grenade, which was usually an iron or ceramic ball filled with gunpowder

and a fuse.

                  Chinese rocket propelled arrows.

Composition

• Originally composed of potassium nitrate (saltpeter), charcoal, and sulfur.

 • First incarnation was "black powder," which

burned rapidly and left large amounts of soot when combusted.

 • Ratio of ingredients can be changed to create

different effects. 

• When combusted, gunpowder will deflagrate (subsonic combustion) instead of detonate (supersonic combustion). 

 • Deflagration of gunpowder produces enough

force for a bullet to be shot, but not enough to rupture the weapon's barrel (usually).

2 KNO3 + S + 3 C → K2S + N2 + 3 CO2.Chemical equation for the combustion of black powder.

Black Powder

Expansion to the World

• Gunpowder remained a monopoly for the Chinese until the 13th Century.

 • While the Mongols eventually

began creating gunpowder, it took longer for it to reach Europe.

 • Gunpowder was first used in

Europe and the Middle East when it began being traded on the Silk Road. 

 • Mainly used in cannons in

European/Middle Eastern warfare.

 

• Was first put into hand held weapons in the 15th Century.

 • Gave birth to a new class of

soldier, the infantry. • The largest shaping force in the

creation of Modern Warfare.