Boom!: The Chemistry and History of Explosives

Black powder, the world’s first chemical explosive, was originally developed in the seventh century, during China’s Tang dynasty. It was a crude mixture at first, but over time chemists discovered the optimum proportion of sulfur, charcoal, and nitrates, as well as the best way to mix them so that the particles of each component were tiny and homogenous, resulting in a complete and powerful reaction.
Author and chemistry buff Simon Quellen Field takes readers on a decades-long journey throu...