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What is the chemical formula of gunpowder?
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Ogenetega Omoyibo
What is the chemical formula of gunpowder?
Gunpowder is a mixture, not a compound. The primary component, potassium nitrate or saltpeter, is KNO3, but it also contains sulfur and carbon. The sulfur is for ignition, the carbon is fuel and the saltpeter is the oxygen source.
An idealized version of the equation for combustion of gunpowder would be
Gunpowder is a mixture, not a compound. The primary component, potassium nitrate or saltpeter, is KNO3, but it also contains sulfur and carbon. The sulfur is for ignition, the carbon is fuel and the saltpeter is the oxygen source.
An idealized version of the equation for combustion of gunpowder would be
The formulation is commonly out there on the internet. Don’t need to repeat it here for the 13 year olds. It isn’t so much the proportions as it is the process of making it. It is very touchy stuff to make. Therefore inconsistent except under very strict conditions. Someone making some ‘home brew’ could easily make something they don’t want to deal with.
The formulation is commonly out there on the internet. Don’t need to repeat it here for the 13 year olds. It isn’t so much the proportions as it is the process of making it. It is very touchy stuff to make. Therefore inconsistent except under very strict conditions. Someone making some ‘home brew’ could easily make something they don’t want to deal with.
Gunpowder is a mixture, not a compound. The primary component, potassium nitrate or saltpeter, is KNO3, but it also contains sulfur and carbon. The sulfur is for ignition, the carbon is fuel and the saltpeter is the oxygen source.
An idealized version of the equation for combustion of gunpowder would be
10(KNO3) + 8C + 3S -> 2(K2C03) + 3(K2SO4) + 6(CO2) + 5(N2)[1].
Footnotes
[1] The Chemistry of GunpowderGunpowder is a mixture, not a compound. The primary component, potassium nitrate or saltpeter, is KNO3, but it also contains sulfur and carbon. The sulfur is for ignition, the carbon is fuel and the saltpeter is the oxygen source.
An idealized version of the equation for combustion of gunpowder would be
10(KNO3) + 8C + 3S -> 2(K2C03) + 3(K2SO4) + 6(CO2) + 5(N2)[1].
Footnotes
[1] The Chemistry of GunpowderMore
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The formulation is commonly out there on the internet. Don’t need to repeat it here for the 13 year olds. It isn’t so much the proportions as it is the process of making it. It is very touchy stuff to make. Therefore inconsistent except under very strict conditions. Someone making some ‘home brew’ could easily make something they don’t want to deal with.
The formulation is commonly out there on the internet. Don’t need to repeat it here for the 13 year olds. It isn’t so much the proportions as it is the process of making it. It is very touchy stuff to make. Therefore inconsistent except under very strict conditions. Someone making some ‘home brew’ could easily make something they don’t want to deal with.
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