Nitro Compounds: Part 1

The exploding apron was not the first example of a man-made explosive. Cellulose is only one of the very few molecules we have altered to become explosive. Some of these altered compounds can cause widespread devastation or spread great prosperity. One molecule in particular is Nitrogen Dioxide, NO2, in the right position this this combination has various explosive affects. The very first explosive is gunpowder, invented back before it's first written history. In 1000 A.D., the first recording of the ingredients was discovered. The main ingredients are Sulfur, Carbon and Potassium nitrate.  In 1067, the Chinese made Blackpowder under government control. Once gunpowder hit England, it became worldwide quickly. Everyone wanted to know what the chemical reactions of gunpowder was, because it arrived in Oxford University and the University of Paris, and was studied quite frequently around 1260. Finally, the present day formula is made up and shows the process. 

The reason gunpowder is so explosive is because of The energy released when each bond is broken. Typically the more bonds the more energy released. With the nitrogen gas being triple bonded, it releases a good amount of energy, I can be very devastating. Who knew that gunpowder was such a deep typic of study?