What is the chemical formula for Gun Powder?

Question

also known as black powder...

Answer 1

Black powder is composed of charcoal, sulfur, and potassium nitrate (a/k/a saltpeter).

I don't know the proportions, but I do know that the charcoal and sulfur must be powdered, and the best way to mix the components is by putting them on a piece of heavy paper, picking one side up in each hand, then alternately lifting and lowering each hand, thus allowing the chemicals to mix. Stirring them can cause a friction-explosion.

Answer 2

For the best answers, search on this site https://shorturl.im/awhF6

Gunpowder (also called black powder) had no single inventor, but was gradually developed over time with varying formulas. The most perfected formula is 2 parts by weight sulfur, 3 parts by weight charcoal, and 15 parts by weight saltpeter (potassium nitrate, which could be either mined or obtained from organic sources like composting -- or dung piles!) The powders are finely ground and then mixed together. Sometimes there are additional treatments such as wetting and then drying (to more intimately mix the saltpeter crystals for even burning). How does it work? "Nitrates have the property to release oxygen when heated, and the oxygen is essential to fast burning of carbon and sulfur, therefore resulting in an explosion-like chemical reaction when gunpowder is ignited: carbon burning consumes oxygen and produces heat, which produces even more oxygen etc. The presence of nitrates is crucial to gunpowder composition because the oxygen released by the heat makes burning of carbon and sulfur so much faster that it results in an explosive action, although mild enough not to destroy the barrels of the firearms . The action of gunpowder therefore can be simplistically described as "very fast burning" and is quite mild as opposed to that of brisant explosives, which react so fast that a shock wave is produced which acts more like a hammer-strike than a pressure build-up."

Answer 3

Gunpowder Chemical Formula

Answer 4

Gun Powder has no chemical formula. Instead, it is a mixture of three compounds: Carcoal, saltpetre (also known as Potassium Nitrate) and sulfur.

So, if you wanted to write a "chemical formula" for gun powder, it would be: C + KNO3 + S, not to be confused with CKNO3S.

Answer 5

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What is the chemical formula for Gun Powder?
also known as black powder...

Answer 6

Gunpowder Formula

Answer 7

Gunpowder (also called black powder) is a pyrotechnic composition, an explosive mixture of sulfur, charcoal (usually fine pure black carbon) and potassium nitrate(also known as saltpetre), its not really a chemical as it is just a mixture of the ingredients - like if you mix two colours of paint it becomes a third colour but it doe snot become a chemical in its own right.....

Answer 8

this is what happens when it reacts

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

2 KNO3 + S + 3 C → K2S + N2 + 3 CO2
A more accurate, but still simplified, equation is:[6]

10 KNO3 + 3 S + 8 C → 2 K2CO3 + 3 K2SO4 + 6 CO2 + 5 N2

Answer 9

Gunpowder was discovered by the Chineese. They used it for fireworks displays. The English used it as a weapon and this was how they captured Hong Kong during the "Opium wars".

Gunpowder itself is a mixture of carbon (charcoal), sulfur (brimstone) and potassium nitrate (saltpeter). Sulfur is obtained as a mineral around volcanic springs. Saltpeter can be found inside caves as a white crystaline mass covering the walls. All the ingredients are mixed in equal portions. To make colorful fireworks, certain metals can be added. For example, copper makes green flames.

Chemically, gunpowder involves the reaction between an oxidant and an oxidizer. The potassium nitrate is the oxidizer and it turns the carbon and sulfur into CO2 and SO2. The sulfur dioxide is responcible for the foul smell of gunpowder as it burns. Loosely packed, gunpowder burns with a flash of smoke. Tightly packed, it explodes. Dynamite is a solution of nitroglycerine soaked into wood pulp. This makes the nitroglycerine shock resistant. A small charge of gunpowder is used to detonate the dynamite.

Answer 10

Gunpowder is not a compound. It is a mixture of powdered charcoal (C), powdered sulfur (S) and potassium nitrate (KNO3).

Warning: Don't try this at home.