Question

explain.....why gunpowder catches fire even in the absence of air????plzzzz gve ans fast.....

Answer 1

Thanks for asking the question.
Gun powder do not need oxygen for combustion. It's ingredients are reactive enough to catch fire. It contain saltpetre(i.e., potassium nitrate), charcoal and sulphur. S. potassium nitrate reacts with sulphur and charcoal and gives potassium sulphide, carbondioxide and nitrogen gas with heat. Potassium nitrate can easily initiate combustion. Nitrogen and carbon dioxide occupies 280 times the volume of original powder which causes explosion.
Hope it helps.