Question

How are the constituents of gunpowder separated?

Answer 1

Gunpowder is a mixture of Sulphur, charcoal and potassium nitrate. The water is added to the mixture of potassium nitrate and this mixture is filtered. The filtrate is a Sulphur solution while the residue is charcoal.

Complete step by step answer:
Gunpowder is a mixture of Sulphur, charcoal and potassium nitrate. When water is added to the mixture, potassium nitrate dissolves. The mixture is then filtered. The filtrate is potassium nitrate solution while the residue is a mixture of Sulphur charcoal. The filtrate is evaporated on a sand bath to obtain potassium nitrate back. When carbon disulphide is added to the residue, Sulphur dissolves. When the mixture is filtered the filtrate is Sulphur solution while the residue is charcoal. Leaving it open evaporates the Sulphur solution. Carbon disulphide then evaporates and Sulphur crystals are left behind.
We can also understand, in the form of a procedure,
Carbon disulphide is added to beakers containing gunpowder sulfur and gets dissolved in carbon disulphide. This mixture is then filtered with the help of a filter paper. The filtrate obtained is taken in a flat vessel and exposed to air till carbon disulphide evaporates away leaving behind Sulphur. The residue obtained contains carbon powder and nitre. It is taken in a beaker containing hot water. This mixture is then filtered with the help of filter paper as residue which is collected after drying. The filtrate on evaporation to dryness by heating gives solid nitre. Thus, the constituents of gunpowder are separated.

Additional information:
Gunpowder consists of Sulphur and charcoals (fuels) with potassium nitrate (an oxidizer – a type of chemical which a fuel requires in order to burn). The basic mixture was, in fact, originally discovered by eighth century Chinese alchemists.

Note:
Gunpowder is no longer used in modern weapons, nor is it used for industrial purposes, due to its relatively inefficient cost compared to newer alternatives such as dynamite and ammonium nitrate/fuel oil. Today gunpowder firearms are limited primarily to hunting, target shooting, and bulletless historical reenactments.