Saltpetre (Potassium Nitrate - KNO3 75%)
Which forms naturally on the soil surface in hot climates. Imported from India via Venice in Medieval Times. In the second half of the 17th century directly into Britain in larger quantities.
A new method was discovered in the 19th century to create potassium nitrate by using ‘Chile Saltpetre’ (Sodium Nitrate)
Charcoal 15%
Is created by burning wood. Two tons of wood usually produce enough charcoal for one ton of powder.
Sulphur 10%
Imported from sicily. Though it is argued that some was refined from the copperas (iron sulphate, or iron pyrites found in the cliffs at Tankerton.
The research above has been chosen using a fine tooth comb, I found a brilliant book in a second hand book store, only £2.50 about Faversham gunpowder industry. Proved to be a brilliant find.
Percival.J.A (1967) Faversham's Gunpowder Industry, About Faversham No4:Faversham.The Faversham Society.
Adam.
The Gun Powder Plot
ReplyDeleteIn 1605 Robert Catesby rented a house next door to the houses of parliament which allowed them to dig underground tunnel leading to parliament. A group of English Catholics including Robert Catesby planned to kill the king and several important Politian’s attending the houses of parliament on the set date 5th of November. For the next stage of the plot they rented a cellar right underneath the houses of parliament. In which they stored 36 barrels of Gun Powder covering them with iron bars and firewood. Guy Fawkes was asked to light the fuse as he was an expert in Gun Powder. However due to a warning from one of the plotters to a friend receiving a letter from him stating not to attend parliament on this particular day the king found out there was a plot to kill him.
On the 4th of November at Midnight Guy Fawkes was discovered alongside the barrels of Gun Powder. Guy Fawkes was imprisoned and tortured until he named the other plotters. They were all found guilty of treason and killed.
This plot became a celebration still celebrated today on the fifth of November which is known as ‘Bon fire night’. Traditionally the bomb fire includes a dummy or a Guy. This shows the significance of Gun Powder on the 5th of November and why it is still remembered today as a historical celebration.
Source: 'Don't Forget Bon Fire Night'
Monica Hughes
2002 Reed Educational and Professional publishing
Oxford
Source 2: 'The Life Of Guy Fawkes'
Emma Lynch 2005
Great Britain
Published by Heinemann library
Awesome Research Karen! :) I found a book on the Gunpowder Plot in a book store got some other info on this too, were touch base on it in the presentation. Post up the Timeline then i'll drop that into the Powerpoint. Cool Cool!
ReplyDeleteAnother book I used for my research was: ’A Very Short Induction’ (John Morrill .1984) Oxford University Press, New york
ReplyDeleteWhen burnt it produces a high volume of hot gas made from carbon dioxide, water and nitrogen. Gunpowder’s high production of hot gas and heat when lit shows the reason for its use in firearms. However modern weapons now use smokeless powder which is unlike the traditional unpredictable Gunpowder.
Chemical Formula KNO3
Gun powder is a low explosive because of its reasonably slow decomposition rate.
http://www.helium.com/items/583811-the-chemistry-of-gunpowder
Gun powder is a mix of charcoal, sulphate and sulphur