Gunpowder was first created by Chinese alchemists in the 9th century as a result of their quest for an elixir of life, and was originally composed of potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur. It was primarily used for fireworks until the 10th century when it saw its first military applications in rocket propelled arrows used against the Mongolians. When combusted, gunpowder will deflagrate instead of detonate, producing enough force for a bullet to be shot from a weapon without rupturing the barrel. It remained a Chinese monopoly until the 13th century when it began spreading to Europe and the Middle East via the Silk Road, where it was mainly used in cannons before being incorporated

1. Gunpowder
by Will Simons

2. Beginnings
• Gunpowder was first created by
Chinese alchemists in China near
850 AD.
• Created as a result of Chinese
quest for an elixir of life.
• Primarily used for fireworks until
904 AD.
• Saw first military use in rocket
propelled arrows.
• First used against Mongolians.

3. Early hand grenade, which was usually an
iron or ceramic ball filled with gunpowder
and a fuse.
Chinese rocket propelled arrows.

4. Composition
• Originally composed of potassium nitrate
(saltpeter), charcoal, and sulfur.
• First incarnation was "black powder," which
burned rapidly and left large amounts of soot
when combusted.
• Ratio of ingredients can be changed to create
different effects.
• When combusted, gunpowder will deflagrate
(subsonic combustion) instead of detonate
(supersonic combustion).
• Deflagration of gunpowder produces enough
force for a bullet to be shot, but not enough to
rupture the weapon's barrel (usually).
2 KNO3 + S + 3 C → K2S + N2 + 3 CO2.
Chemical equation for the combustion of black powder.
Black Powder

5. Expansion to the World
• Gunpowder remained a monopoly
for the Chinese until the 13th
Century.
• While the Mongols eventually
began creating gunpowder, it took
longer for it to reach Europe.
• Gunpowder was first used in
Europe and the Middle East when
it began being traded on the Silk
Road.
• Mainly used in cannons in
European/Middle Eastern warfare.

6. • Was first put into hand held
weapons in the 15th Century.
• Gave birth to a new class of
soldier, the infantry.
• The largest shaping force in the
creation of Modern Warfare.

7. • Was first put into hand held
weapons in the 15th Century.
• Gave birth to a new class of
soldier, the infantry.
• The largest shaping force in the
creation of Modern Warfare.