But you can always reload great grandpa’s musket with some homemade gunpowder. All kidding aside ... that go into this experiment are ammonium nitrate and potassium chloride.

or gunpowder, the basic material in all fireworks, has remained the same since it was discovered in China about 1,000 years ago: 75 percent saltpeter (potassium nitrate), 15 percent charcoal ...

Ordinarily a solution of nitrate of potash (common saltpeter ... of the sulphur and niter of ordinary powder, whereby sulphide of potassium should result. Practice is confirmatory; under the ...

It begins with an explanation of the basic chemistry involved, using potassium nitrate and sugar ... which increases the surface area and allows the powder constituents to blend with the wax ...

Saltpeter, or sodium/potassium nitrate, is an impurity that commonly occurs in salt, and is commonly used in gunpowder and fireworks. It isn't explosive by itself, but the substance can create a ...