Gunpowder - Revision history

Cian at 06:21, 6 July 2006

2006-07-06T06:21:19Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:21, 6 July 2006
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	== History ==		== History ==
	The invention of gunpowder is commonly credited to the [[China\|Chinese]] or [[Arab]]s, but this hard to prove. The Chinese can date it to the [[9th century]]. Early [[Europe]]an references to similar substances occur in the [[13th century]] (cf. [[Roger Bacon]]'s ''On Marvelous Power of Art and Nature'') but the "Corning" process which ~~maintain~~ its composition and quality was not developed until the [[15th century]].		The invention of gunpowder is commonly credited to the [[China\|Chinese]] or [[Arab]]s, but this hard to prove. The Chinese can date it to the [[9th century]]. Early [[Europe]]an references to similar substances occur in the [[13th century]] (cf. [[Roger Bacon]]'s ''On Marvelous Power of Art and Nature'') but the "Corning" process which maintains its composition and quality was not developed until the [[15th century]].

	[[category:weapons]]		[[category:weapons]]

Cian: history

2006-07-06T05:50:20Z

history

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:50, 6 July 2006
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	'''Gunpowder''' or '''Black Powder''' is a chemical compound of Carbon, Sulphur and Saltpetre (pottasium nitrate). When exposed to flame it explodes with great force, producing a cloud of white smoke (which stinks of rotten ~~eggs~~ from the sulphur). Properly harnessed in the barrel of a [[firearm]], gunpowder is an impressive weapon.		'''Gunpowder''' or '''Black Powder''' is a chemical compound of Carbon, Sulphur and Saltpetre (pottasium nitrate). The carbon tended to be burnt [[willow]], or to a lesser extent [[grape\|vines]], [[hazel tree\|hazel]], [[elder tree\|elder]], [[laurel tree\|laurel]], and [[pine tree\|pine]] cones. When exposed to flame, the powder explodes with great force, producing a cloud of white smoke (which stinks of rotten [[egg]]s from the sulphur). Properly harnessed in the barrel of a [[firearm]], gunpowder is an impressive weapon.

	If gunpowder gets wet, however, it cannot fire, and is therefore extremely vulnerable to damp weather. Even if the gunpowder is dry, it burns inefficiently, and leaves residue in the barrel of a firearm called ''fouling''. A firearm which has been fouled by a great deal of firing is less accurate, less powerful, and prone to jamming.		If gunpowder gets wet, however, it cannot fire, and is therefore extremely vulnerable to damp weather. Even if the gunpowder is dry, it burns inefficiently, and leaves residue in the barrel of a firearm called ''fouling''. A firearm which has been fouled by a great deal of firing is less accurate, less powerful, and prone to jamming.

	Modern "gunpowder" is not gunpowder at all, but a chemical compound called ''Cordite'', which burns very quickly rather than exploding. It is more efficient, produces very little smoke, and is less susceptible to moisture. Burning cordite leaves a distinctive acrid odour which can linger in [[fabric]] for days.		Modern "gunpowder" is not gunpowder at all, but a chemical compound called ''Cordite'', which burns very quickly rather than exploding. It is more efficient, produces very little smoke, and is less susceptible to moisture. Burning cordite leaves a distinctive acrid odour which can linger in [[fabric]] for days.

			== History ==
			The invention of gunpowder is commonly credited to the [[China\|Chinese]] or [[Arab]]s, but this hard to prove. The Chinese can date it to the [[9th century]]. Early [[Europe]]an references to similar substances occur in the [[13th century]] (cf. [[Roger Bacon]]'s ''On Marvelous Power of Art and Nature'') but the "Corning" process which maintain its composition and quality was not developed until the [[15th century]].

	[[category:weapons]]		[[category:weapons]]

Paul Matisz at 19:51, 1 November 2005

2005-11-01T19:51:56Z

New page

'''Gunpowder''' or '''Black Powder''' is a chemical compound of Carbon, Sulphur and Saltpetre (pottasium nitrate). When exposed to flame it explodes with great force, producing a cloud of white smoke (which stinks of rotten eggs from the sulphur). Properly harnessed in the barrel of a [[firearm]], gunpowder is an impressive weapon.

If gunpowder gets wet, however, it cannot fire, and is therefore extremely vulnerable to damp weather. Even if the gunpowder is dry, it burns inefficiently, and leaves residue in the barrel of a firearm called ''fouling''. A firearm which has been fouled by a great deal of firing is less accurate, less powerful, and prone to jamming.

Modern "gunpowder" is not gunpowder at all, but a chemical compound called ''Cordite'', which burns very quickly rather than exploding. It is more efficient, produces very little smoke, and is less susceptible to moisture. Burning cordite leaves a distinctive acrid odour which can linger in [[fabric]] for days.

[[category:weapons]]