Gunpowder

"Glass of Zhiyin, sulfur and yang, yin and yang, the two met in the Shenwu be no gap in capacity."
—— "Heavenly Creations"
China's four great inventions of gunpowder is one of ancient Chinese science and technology one of the outstanding representatives. Gunpowder was invented by the ancient Liandan garage, its main ingredient is sulfur, charcoal and niter. It was invented in the Tang Dynasty, in the mature development of the Song Dynasty. Gunpowder, as the name suggests is that the drug can catch fire, which the ingredients are sulfur and niter. In the Han Dynasty, "Shen Nong's Materia Medica", niter, sulphur have been listed as important ingredients, Ming Li Shizhen (1518-1593) "Compendium of Materia Medica," also said that the gunpowder can be sore for ringworm, can insecticide. Liandan garage were not invented to Zhangshengbulao the Xiandan, has accumulated a wealth of knowledge of chemistry. Since the chemical nature of active sulfur, toxicity is too large, easy to fire, so they will niter, charcoal mixed up with heating, niter is a strong oxidant, will make some sulphur combustion, reducing its toxicity, thereby reducing the easy nature of the fire. This approach was then a Chinese medicine experts Sun Simiao (581-682) in its chemical nature of the book "Dan, as" known as the "V sulphur Act." V sulphur in the implementation of the process, he found, sulphur, niter (potassium nitrate), charcoal can be properly mixed together to produce an explosion. The technology spread to the hands of the military handicraft artisans, they began the formulation of raw materials strengthen the research, after several tests, several changes in the ratio of raw materials, finally mastered the gunpowder explosion in the seal under the conditions of the skills so that the powder can become Control of the usefulness of explosives.

Liandan garage were not invented to Zhangshengbulao the Xiandan, Has accumulated a wealth of knowledge of chemistry. Map Liandan explosion map.

Gunpowder widely used in firecrackers. Fang Baozhu old map of where the holidays.

Northern Song Dynasty, the history of engineering and technical experts in its public-dedicated "to force the total" (1044), detailed records of the three explosives formula: gunpowder, artillery, poison smoke of gunpowder, ball, gunpowder, Tribulus terrestris fireball. "The force must be" also succinctly described several methods and the production of gunpowder ratio of raw materials. We can see that the niter in which the proportion has exceeded the sum of sulfur and charcoal, are close to the proportion of modern black gunpowder. Shortly afterward, the creation of the Northern Song Dynasty and the use of gunpowder to the severity of various weapons, the most famous is the "sudden guns", it also became the beginning of modern guns. The 13th century, soldiers Xizheng of the Yuan Dynasty in Central Asia, gunpowder and artillery technology spread to the Arab world and by Arabs spread to Europe. European manufacturers of gunpowder recorded in the Formula 1327.

Northern Song "-as always," recorded by the powder formula

Ming-Shenhuo Manado, the unborn with gunpowder, can fly more than 100 Zhang, after landing can burn the enemy's barracks food.