Gunpowder chemical principle

Gunpowder is generally known as explosives, explosives are substances that can be burned or decomposed very quickly, and can produce a large amount of heat and gas in a short period of time. The composition of specific gunpowder varies greatly, generally containing sulfur or ammonia is more civilian.

Middle school and high school chemistry teachers have taught, a sulfur two nitrate three charcoal.

One sulfur, two potassium nitrate, three charcoal mixed to make black powder.

When it catches fire, the following chemical reaction occurs:

2KNO3 + S + 3C ==== K2S + N2 ↑ + 3CO2↑

Potassium nitrate decomposition of oxygen released, so that the charcoal and sulfur burned violently, instantly generating a large amount of heat and nitrogen, carbon dioxide and other gases. Due to the rapid expansion of the volume, the pressure increased violently, so the explosion occurred.

About every 4 grams of black powder on fire when burning, can produce 280 liters of gas, the volume can expand nearly 10,000 times.