Question

Black powder is a mixture of charcoal (carbon), potassium nitrate and sulfer. The oxidizing agent in black powder is:

1) charcoal
2) nitroglycerin
3) potassium nitrate
4) sulfur

Answer 1

Potassium nitrate is the oxidizing agent in black powder, providing the necessary oxygen for the combustion process that leads to an explosion. The correct option is 3).

Step-by-step explanation:

The oxidizing agent in black powder is potassium nitrate. An oxidizing agent is a substance that provides oxygen for reactions, enabling the combustion of fuel, which in the case of black powder is charcoal (carbon).

Potassium nitrate, with chemical formula KNO3, contains nitrate ions that can release oxygen when decomposed, which then react with carbon to produce the explosion.

Charcoal acts as a fuel, not an oxidizer, by combining with oxygen to form carbon dioxide. Thus, the correct answer to the question 'The oxidizing agent in black powder is:' would be option 3) potassium nitrate.