554 DR. h. debus on the chemical theory of gunpowder. 
If the reactions went a little beyond the first stage of the combustion, and we add 
to the left of the sign of equality 1’32 atoms of carbon, which would reduce some 
potassic sulphate with formation of potassic sulphide and carbonate, carbonic acid and 
oxide, according to equations which will be given afterwards, numbers are obtained 
which are almost identical with those calculated from Kaeolyi’s observations on the 
products of explosion of cannon powder (p. 552). The same remark applies to the 
products of the rifle powder, except the carbonic acid. 
The excess of oxygen found in the products of rifle powder indicates that some 
error has occurred in the determinations of these products, and it seems to have influ¬ 
enced, almost exclusively, the carbonic acid. If the quantity of this substance is 
calculated according to the available oxygen of the decomposed saltpetre, a number 
is obtained which agrees very well with equation (IV.). 
From the foregoing observations it follows that powders of the composition of the 
Austrian service powders— 
16KN0 3 -f 19'8C +8-7S 
and 16KNO 3 + 20 , 57C-|-5 , 66S 
burn during the first stage of the metamorphosis according to the equation: 
16KNO 3 +13C+5S=3K 2 CO 3 +5K a SO 4( +90O a +CO + 8N 3 
and that the carbon and sulphur which the powders contain, beyond the quantities 
required by this equation, remain free. 
The very combustible sporting powder of Bunsen and Schischkoff contained 
16KN0 3 +13'3C + 6-3S 
Therefore, it will be seen that the constituents of the service powders react upon 
each other during the first stage of the explosion nearly in the same stochiometrical 
quantities in which they are contained in the more highly combustible sporting 
powder. 
If it be correct that equation (IY.) represents proportions of saltpetre, carbon, and 
sulphur, in which these substances will burn with greater facility than they do in the 
proportions of the service powders, then we can by means of equation (IY.) calculate 
the composition of a powder which shall be distinguished by its great combustibility. 
Besides saltpetre, carbon and sulphur, hydrogen, oxygen, ash, and moisture are 
contained in gunpowder. The weight of these latter constituents is about 4 per cent, 
of the mixture. If we add 4 per cent, to the quantities represented by the symbols 
16KN0 3 + 13C+5S 
and consider hydrogen, oxygen, ash, and moisture united with carbon to charcoal, we 
obtain for the percentage composition of the most combustible mixture 
