DR. H. DEBUS ON THE CHEMICAL THEORY OF GUNPOWDER. 
545 
4-98K 2 CO 3 +13'13CO 3 +0-84S 
+ 0-90K 2 SO 4 + 3-23CO + 0*67H 3 S 
+ 2-10K 3 S 3 +17-34N 
— 
~ 16KN0 3 +1-34N 
> = < 
+ 21-35C+1-34H >> 
+ 6-63S 
The powder constituents on the right-hand side of the sign of equality have been 
calculated from the composition of the products of explosion. 
The same constituents, as found by the direct analysis of the powders, are repre¬ 
sented by the symbols : 
16KNO s +21-18C + 6*63S 
which are in close agreement with those deduced from the products of explosion. 
Powder of this composition, burnt according to the method of Noble and Abel, will 
form the products of explosion in quantities as represented by equation (I.), if the 
small quantities of secondary products arising from the presence of hydrogen in 
charcoal, such as marsh gas, ammonia, and free hydrogen, are neglected. 
The sulphuretted hydrogen is either the product of the direct union of hydrogen 
and sulphur at comparatively low temperatures, or of the action of carbonic acid and 
water upon potassic sulphide. In either case its formation has no direct connexion 
with the explosion, and it ought to be likewise omitted from an equation representing 
the metamorphosis of gunpowder. 
0'84 atom of sulphur is represented as free, because there are no data to show 
how much sulphur has united with the iron of the apparatus. 
It is usual to represent the potassic sulphide as monosulphide. Further on it will 
be shown that this is not correct, but that disulphide is really produced. 
We may then replace equation (I.) by the more simple one 
16KNO a +2lC+5S=5K a CO«+13CO 
1K 3 S0 4 + 3C0 
2K 3 S 3 + 8N 3 
(no 
A portion of the sulphur of the powder has united with hydrogen and iron, hence 
the difference of sulphur in equations (I.) and (II.). 
A powder consisting of 
I6KNO3 + 2 IC+ 5 S 
exploded according to the method of Noble and Abel in a vessel the substance of 
which is not attacked by the products of combustion, ought, cceteris paribus, to yield 
the products of explosion always in the proportions represented in equation (II.). 
Under very great pressures the amount of carbonic oxide appears to diminish to a 
small extent; this variation of the carbonic oxide has, however, only a slight influence 
4 A 2 
