ABSTRACT
It was first used as a propellant for firearms in the early 14th century and is thought to have originated as early as the 11th century. The Chinese are credited with its discovery and the discovery of the explosive properties of the mixture of substances we know as traditional gun powder — sulfur, charcoal, and saltpeter (potassium nitrate). It is suggested that gun powder may have been used in the manufacture of fireworks well before its application to firearms and warfare.
