The Genius of China: Gunpowder

  Gunpowder is invented quite accidental. At first the Chinese alchemists were searching for the elixir of immorality, but they discovered the gunpowder during the experiments. It is believed that gunpowder in made of sulfur, charcoal, and saltpeter, which resulted in explosion.

  At the end of the Tang Dynasty, gunpowder was being used in military. During the Song Dynasty, the Government thought that the barbarians might steal the idea of gunpowder. As a result, the Song Dynasty did not allow the people to sell them to the barbarian gunpowder. Moreover, during the Song and Yuan Dynasties, gunpowder had been developed into cannons, and fire-arrows shot from bamboo tubes. In the Renaissances, gunpowder has been spread to countries around the Mediterranean Sea and other European countries through the Arab.

  In European countries, the Arabs spread the gunpowder to them and they started doing a lot of experiments on it. In the late 14th century, the European started adding liquid to the gunpowder to reduce dust and with the risk of explosion. This form of gunpowder could keep better and it is easier for the gunners to slot them into guns.

  During the Renaissance, the Italian school introduced firework and by the middle of 17th century fireworks were used for entertainment in Europe, and had been becoming very popular at resorts and public gardens. At the beginning of modern times, cannon have been developed gradually.

Do rocket relate to gunpowder?

  Partially, you can say that rocket is the “offspring” of gunpowder. Rocket has applied the skills of gunpowder to make it enter to the universe. Gunpowder consists of charcoal, an oxidizer and sulfur, to allow for a stable reaction. Carbon from the charcoal and oxygen formed carbon dioxide and energy. The reaction would be slow, like a wood fire. Carbon in a fire must draw oxygen from the air. Oxidizers provide extra oxygen. The expansion of gases provides the propelling action.

  Since gunpowder is explosive and also it is poison. I won’t suggest you to make them at home if necessary. If you want to try, you should do it in the laboratories. And moreover, you are reminded to do it carefully!