black powder
Charcoal saltpeter sulfur
Black powder is an explosive mixture of potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur—the original gunpowder.
It was the primary propellant for firearms and the main explosive for mining and demolition until smokeless powder replaced it in the late nineteenth century.
Black powder remains common in fireworks, historical reenactments, and muzzle-loading firearms: He loads his own black powder cartridges.
Muzzle-loaded infantry firearm
- flintlockFlint-sparked firearm mechanism
- muzzleloaderGun loaded through barrel
- matchlockCord-ignited gun mechanism
- arquebusEarly portable firearm
blunderbuss · percussion cap · cartridge · ramrod · wadding · patch · ball · shot
Potassium nitrate compound
- charcoalBurned wood residue
- sulfurYellow combustible element
- oxidizerElectron-accepting reactant
- potassium nitrateCrystalline potassium salt compound
corned · serpentine · granulation · grain size · mixture · formula · ratio · carbon
Large mounted gun
- mortarGrinding bowl or binder
- howitzerShort-barreled artillery piece
- bombardAttack without ceasing
- culverinHistorical long-range cannon
siege · barrage · volley · salvo · projectile · cannonball · grapeshot · chain shot
Explosive light displays
- rocketsPropulsion-driven flying vehicles
- fountainsWater-spouting structures
- firecrackersSmall explosive novelties
- sparklersHandheld burning wands
stars · burst · fuse · quick match · slow match · display · celebration · effects
New device or method
- alchemyMystical metal transformation
- ChineseOf that Asian nation
- medievalOf the Middle Ages
- renaissancePeriod of renewed vitality
warfare · revolution · industrialization · mining · blasting · excavation · quarrying · Gunpowder Plot
musket
Muzzle-loaded infantry firearm
- flintlockFlint-sparked firearm mechanism
- muzzleloaderGun loaded through barrel
- matchlockCord-ignited gun mechanism
arquebus · blunderbuss · percussion cap · cartridge · ramrod · wadding · patch · ball · shot · priming
saltpeter
Potassium nitrate compound
potassium nitrate · corned · serpentine · granulation · grain size · mixture · formula · ratio · carbon · combustion
cannon
Large mounted gun
culverin · siege · barrage · volley · salvo · projectile · cannonball · grapeshot · chain shot · vent
fireworks
Explosive light displays
- rocketsPropulsion-driven flying vehicles
- fountainsWater-spouting structures
- firecrackersSmall explosive novelties
sparklers · stars · burst · fuse · quick match · slow match · display · celebration · effects · timing
invention
New device or method
renaissance · warfare · revolution · industrialization · mining · blasting · excavation · quarrying · Gunpowder Plot · Guy Fawkes
- mining chemicalscollectors, frothers, depressants, activators, frother
- historical warfaremusket, bayonet, cannon, flintlock, cavalry
- hazardous chemicalsacid, chlorine, fluorine, bromine, hydrofluoric acid
- ammunition partsprimer, bullet, casing, cartridge, projectile
- blastingblast, blasting, detonation, explosives, dynamite
- Explosivesbomb, dynamite, grenade, TNT, C-4
black, powder, blacken, Black Friday, blackberry, blackness, blacks, blackest, blacker