The Chinese used gunpowder for blasting agents, by digging holes in sides of the mountain and putting the gunpowder down in the hole. Tthe saltpeter in the gunpowder acts as an oxidizer, and the sulfur and charcoal combine together to act as fuel. Charcoal, sulfur. and saltpeter grounded together, the ingredients formed a powder that was referred to as serpentine. All the ingredients are combined with a liquid, commonly called water or wine and then pushed through a screen to form small pellets. Tthe mixture was introduced to Europe in the 13th century and found it way into firearms in the 14th century. The safety fuse was finally introduced in 1831 and made the use of gunpowder in mining far safer. Then in the late 19th century, gunpowder had mostly fallen out of use, and it was replaced by smokeless powder. The precise reactions of gunpowder are difficult to elucidate
The Chinese used gunpowder for blasting agents, by digging holes in sides of the mountain and putting the gunpowder down in the hole. Tthe saltpeter in the gunpowder acts as an oxidizer, and the sulfur and charcoal combine together to act as fuel. Charcoal, sulfur. and saltpeter grounded together, the ingredients formed a powder that was referred to as serpentine. All the ingredients are combined with a liquid, commonly called water or wine and then pushed through a screen to form small pellets. Tthe mixture was introduced to Europe in the 13th century and found it way into firearms in the 14th century. The safety fuse was finally introduced in 1831 and made the use of gunpowder in mining far safer. Then in the late 19th century, gunpowder had mostly fallen out of use, and it was replaced by smokeless powder. The precise reactions of gunpowder are difficult to elucidate