From: David Chappell - UK, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
OK, yes, my chemistry was simplified. Perhaps overly so.
This is because burning black powder does not correspond
to any simple chemical reaction between stoichiometrical
proportions of the ingredients. This means that the
empirical formula quoted isn't 100% accurate. The actual
products of burning black powder have been studied. (and
of course there will be moisture in black powder, it is
made using a wet process after all, as well as it being
hygroscopic - and there may well be some 'impurities'
within the mixture, (for example some potassium sulphate
in the potassium nitrate) and yes 'air' will contribute
to the reaction, though not much as we do not need it for
the reaction to take place)
You are quite right Chris, being a mixture, rather than a
compound, the reaction is not always complete, nor do
the ingredients always react fully.
Over half of the products are solids ejected as smoke.
(the characteristic 'smell' is actually produced mostly
by potassium sulphide, although some hydrogen sulphide
is produced)
The exact range and quantity is known as far as it can
be, from countless recorded and documented experiments
by many people.
An 'average' of the combustion products produced are:
(With 42.98% of it's weight of gas, 55.91% as solids
and 1.11% as water.)
Gases (by volume) Solids (by weight)
Carbon Dioxide 49.29 Potassium Carbonate 61.05
Carbon Monoxide 12.47 Potassium Sulphate 15.10
Nitrogen 32.91 Potassium Sulphide 14.47
Hydrogen Sulphide02.66 Potassium Thiocyanate 00.22
Methane 00.43 Potassium Nitrate 00.27
Hydrogen 02.19 Ammonium Carbonate 00.08
Sulphur 08.74
(please don't add them up as they are averaged from other
results from differing powders having slightly different
compositions)
I am afraid that no-one has recorded Sulphur Dioxide being
produced, and I did suggest that you use litmus paper on the
powder fouling as well as on dissolved powder.
Temperatures just do not get high enough to produce any oxides
of nitrogen.
I have ignored any contribution from the percussion cap, as
this was just about black powder. (I thought :-)
Have fun!
Regards - David.
Cybershooters website: http://www.cybershooters.org
List admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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