Gunpowder fuels various weapons of war.
The concept of gunpowder comes from the Latin word pulvis . It is a mixture that can be made with different elements and that, when it reaches a certain temperature , ignites and violently releases multiple gases.
explosive product
Gunpowder, therefore, is an explosive product . Its original formula included charcoal , sulfur and saltpeter , although other substances can currently be used.
Gunpowder is generally used in grains . It is usually used in pyrotechnics and to propel the projectiles fired by firearms.
History
Regarding its origins, historians believe that gunpowder was invented by Taoists in China around the 9th century . After the Mongol invasion of Chinese territory, gunpowder reached different regions of the Middle East . It was from this area that the explosive mixture headed to Europe .
in medicine
Although at first glance it may seem impossible, gunpowder is closely related to medicine, since saltpeter was used by the Chinese along with sulfur for different healing treatments , even in times before the 1st century BC. C. Already in the year 492 AD. C., in an alchemical work a procedure is described to distinguish saltpeter from other similar salts that consists of recognizing the color of its flame: it must be purple. Alchemists studied the purification of saltpeter for centuries.
Regarding the flammable properties of sulfur mixed with saltpeter, we can find evidence in the 9th century in a Taoist text titled Zhenyuan miaodao yaolüe , where it also mentions the use of honey and realgar, a rare mineral but of natural origin, similar to cinnabar. . It describes the obtaining of flames and smoke, as well as the tragic fire of the alchemist's house, without leaving aside the burns all over his body.
Finally, we can refer to the etymology of the word that is used in Chinese to refer to gunpowder, since it is made up of the characters for "fire" and "medicine" , further evidence of its origins. Note, on the other hand, that this name was not the original, but rather arose several hundred years after its discovery, which took place, ironically, accidentally in the midst of various experiments to find the elixir of immortality .
in the war
Given the properties that the Chinese discovered about gunpowder in their early tests, it was not long before they also used it for their battlefield engagements. For this purpose, they applied it to a new series of weapons, such as bombs, rockets, anti-personnel mines and flamethrowers, all before the invention of metal projectiles. In the Manchuria region, in the northeast of the country, a hand cannon was found dating from the end of the 13th century, the same time as explosive bombs belonging to the Mongols that appeared in Japan.
Increasingly used in the field of warfare, gunpowder arrived on the American continent at the hands of the Portuguese and Spanish conquerors. In fact, Europeans used gunpowder in their confrontations against native peoples, such as the Incas and the Aztecs .
The first uses of gunpowder were medicinal.
For a long time, firearms used black powder as a propellant. With the combustion of gunpowder, a pressure was generated that allowed the projectile to be ejected at high speed. Currently it is more common to use so-called smokeless powder .
Criminalistics
It is interesting to note that, by studying a person's hands, it can be discovered if they have traces of gunpowder and if, therefore, they fired a gun a short time ago. These analyzes are very important in criminology.