Explosives

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Gunpowder

The first known and largely produced explosive was gunpowder. The traditional formula for gunpowder is to use, by weight, 75% potassium nitrate, 15% charcoal, and 10% sulphur. While this is traditional, the formula will vary a bit, especially if it is used for a specialized application such as a rocket engine. While amateurs prepare gun powder using a mortar and pestle (wet- obviuosly), more advanced setups use acetone which allows the gunpowder to be ground with stronger force. The acetone, unlike water, stops potassium nitrate from crystallising, allowing a finer mix. While gunpowder was known as early as the ninth century, it wasn't until much later that other explosives became known.

Nitro-glycerine

The next major explosive was nitro-glycerine, which was commonly used to produce dynamite. Unlike gunpowder, however, nitro-glycerine was very sensitive to shock and could accidentally detonate very easily.

Other explosives

Other explosives such as nitrocellulose, also known as gun cotton, where developed around this time. The first military high explosive was picric acid, also know as tri-nitro phenol. The major problem with this explosive was that it could not be melted, so casting it into explosive shells was not easy. Eventually, TNT was developed, which has the composition tri-nitro toluene. Although not quite as powerful as picric acid, TNT is a very good explosive as it is not extremely sensitive, can be melted so it can be cast into explosive shells, and is relatively powerful. And as things continued to advance, more modern explosives have evolved. RDX and PETN where discovered. These two complimented each other as one is manufactured as a by-product of making the other. These two together, along with a plasticizer, make up Semtex. By adding TNT to the mix, you get C-4. Commercially, other things are put in, such as tracers which help determine the source of the explosives. There have also been a couple of other explosives developed through the years. Mercuric fulminate is one such explosive. As a contact explosive, it is used as the primer on bullets. Another similar explosive is nitrogen tri-iodide. Also a contact explosive, it is easily made and loud, which causes it to be used for practical jokes.