I have no probloms making BP, but I just hada question about the chemistry of it. I know that KNO3 is an oxidizer, and that Sulfur and Carbon are Reducing agents. But why does BP need 2 different Reducing agents for the same substance (KNO3) to be Reduced?

IN other RXNs there are usually only 1 ox. to 1 red. I know Sulfur and Carbon are needed for a quality prouduct, but why is it that these TWO elements are needed?

When u make BP, you can edit out the sulfer and just use 75% KNO3 to 25% carbon. The carbon increases the burn rate i think and if u use sulfer, it will increase the gas output.

I just got a 4lb of sulfur some days ago and made some proper BP meal powder. It seems to ignite a lot easier than sulfurless BP(not that sulfurless BP is hard to light or anything). Also I think it burns about the same speed as sulfurless meal, it was only ball milled for 2.5 hours where my sulfurless BP was like 5 hours. I'll try making a 2ft line of each powder connected in a V(so I can ignite them at the same time easier) and see which burns quicker. Regular BP burns hotter I think, that is why it has higher gas output because it actually releases fewer moles of gas compared to sulfurless BP.

Well that's interesting. i'll do some expearmnts with differnt ratios of KNO3 : C, and KNO3 : S. But i wonder why the formula evolve the way it did if only 2 ingrdiants can be used and produce similer results? Hmm... Well thanks for the input.

The two components are not nessary to allow combustion with the kno3, however this gives different propities. Sulfurless burns very fast but with little gasses. Sulphur lowers the ignition temp and produces more gasses, so its better for propellents.