17 Dec
2003
17 Dec
'03
11:17 p.m.
Does anyone here know chemistry, besides Jim Bell, who's busy? Someone should update the Anarchist's Cookbook.
Potassium nitrate is a natural byproduct of the decay of organic material. It is highly soluable in warm water, but at low temperatures (<10C) will quickly precipitate out and be displaced in solution by other salts, such as sodium chloride. Extract by evaporation of water from chilled solution. Mix seven parts potassium nitrate with three parts carbon (coal). Compact and ignite to produce explosion. This has been known for centuries. The Chinese used this mainly for pyrotechnic displays and entertainment, however the Europeans have found more political applications of the technology.