This chemical is a product of our "have fire, will burn" mentality. Rumoured to have been discovered in the 16th century B.C by Chinese alchemists who were on a quest to discover the elixir of life (which somehow led to the discovery of the ultimate recipe of death), this compound has reshaped the world in more ways than we know.
Who would have through that a simple combination of sulphur, charcoal and potassium nitrate would lead to the creation of the single most destructive compound known to Man. Gunpowder isn’t even the best or most powerful explosive. It’s quite simple a subsonic explosive with a comparatively low burn rate and limited power output. This was the ideal explosive for use in handheld firearms simply because it had sufficient power to propel a projectile at supersonic speeds without damaging the weapon or its wielder. It’s ironic that without war, this compound would have no reason to exist, except in fireworks.
