An explosive which contains, 65% saltpetre, 20% sulphar and 15% charcoal is:
🧪 Understanding Explosive Compositions
Most chemical explosives consist of two main types of components: an oxidizer, which provides oxygen for the reaction, and a fuel, which burns rapidly using that oxygen. The specific combination of these components defines the type of explosive and its properties.
🔬 Detailed Analysis of the Options
C. Blasting Powder
This is the correct answer. The composition described—65% saltpetre, 20% sulphur, and 15% charcoal—is the classic recipe for Blasting Powder, which is another name for Black Powder or Gun Powder.
- Saltpetre (Potassium Nitrate, KNO₃): This is the oxidizer. It supplies the oxygen needed for the rapid combustion.
- Sulphur (S) and Charcoal (Carbon, C): These are the fuels. They burn extremely quickly in the presence of the oxygen from the saltpetre.
This formulation is one of the oldest known chemical explosives, used for centuries in quarrying and mining.
A. Dynamite
Dynamite is a high explosive whose primary ingredient is Nitroglycerin, a powerful but unstable liquid explosive. Dynamite is made by absorbing nitroglycerin into an inert, porous material like diatomaceous earth or sawdust to make it safer to handle.
B. Nitrocellulose
Nitrocellulose (also known as guncotton) is a high explosive made by treating cellulose (like cotton) with nitric acid. It is a single chemical compound, not a mixture like blasting powder.
D. Cordite
Cordite is a type of smokeless powder, a more modern explosive than black powder. It is a mixture whose main ingredients are Nitrocellulose and Nitroglycerin.
📊 Summary: Common Explosives and Their Main Components
| Explosive | Main Components |
|---|---|
| Blasting Powder | Saltpetre + Sulphur + Charcoal |
| Dynamite | Nitroglycerin + Absorbent |
| Nitrocellulose | Treated Cellulose (single compound) |
| Cordite | Nitrocellulose + Nitroglycerin |
💡 Study Tips
- The Original Recipe: Remember that Saltpetre + Sulphur + Charcoal is the "original recipe" for explosives, known as black powder or blasting powder.
- Dynamite = Nitroglycerin: This is a key association. Alfred Nobel's great invention was taming nitroglycerin to make dynamite.
- Look for the Mixture: The question describes a mixture of three distinct substances. Dynamite, Nitrocellulose, and Cordite are based on more complex chemical compounds (Nitroglycerin, Nitrocellulose), making Blasting Powder the most likely answer for a simple mixture.