您现在的位置: Language Tips> Easy English> Odd Question  
   
 





 
What is the story of gunpowder?
[ 2006-04-14 09:07 ]

What is the story of gunpowder?The English philosopher and alchemistRoger Baconis thought by modern historians to be the first European to have come acrossgunpowder. In 1248 a missionarybrought him a Chinese device known as a " firecracker" that was used in celebrations. Intrigued, Bacon took it apart and analyzed the contents to discover why it exploded rather than merely burned. He soon worked out that the black substance, which was to become known as gunpowder, was a mixture of saltpetreand other chemicals. Bacon also apparently realised the huge danger that this innocuous-lookingpowder presented, and in his report he encipheredthe formula- an attempt to keep it a secret for as long as possible. To find the true origins of gunpowder, however, we must travel a few hundred years backward in time, and a few thousand miles to the East.

Although the early history of gunpowder is murky, it is believed to have been invented in China at about 900AD. Taoistalchemists had been searching for the elixir of immortality, and were testing compoundssuch as saltpetre. Around this time it was discovered that the addition of two common substances - charcoaland sulphur- improves the rapid burning of saltpetre into an explosion. Sulphur is long known to science, and by 200AD was being produced by roasting iron sulphide.

The scientific principle behind explosives is simple enough. A mixture of solids must burn vigorously to produce a large volume of gas, which rapidly expands from the heat of the reaction. The saltpetre is an oxidant, and allows the charcoal to burn far quicker than if it only had access to oxygen in the air.

2KNO3(s) + 3C(s) + S(s) -----> N2(g) + 3CO2(g) + K2S(s)


The Chinese used this reaction for noisemakersand signallingrockets at first. The earliest mention of gunpowder being employed for warfare dates to 1046. The first recognisable cannonor firearmwith an enclosed blast chamberdidn't arise until 1288.

Despite Bacon's best efforts, Europeans discovered the formula and applied it to killing each other with great zeal. Weapon designs developed rapidly, and gunpowder formulas were perfected. In 1429, two Czechalchemists devised granulatedgunpowder, which is much more powerful and consistent, and less vulnerable to moisture. Gunpowder revolutionised warfare during the 16th century, as ancient fortresseswere suddenly vulnerable to cannons, and guns became small enough to be wielded effectively by infantry. It is acutely ironic that one of the most destructive inventions in history was originally developed from research into achieving immortality.

 

note:

alchemist: 炼金术士
Roger Bacon: 罗杰·培根
come across: 偶遇,碰到
missionary: 传教士
firecracker: 爆竹,鞭炮



saltpetre: 硝石, 硝酸钠

innocuous-looking: 看似无害的
encipher: 把…译成密码
formula: 配方


murky: 模糊的,不清楚的
Taoist: 道教的
elixir of immortality: 长生不老药
compound: 化合物
charcoal: 木炭
sulphur: 硫磺
iron sulphide: 黄铁矿




oxidant: 氧化剂

 

 

noisemaker: 发出噪音的东西
signal: 发射
recognisable: 公认的
cannon: 大炮
firearm: 火器,枪炮
blast chamber: 燃烧室


Czech: 捷克的
granulated: 颗粒状的

fortress: 堡垒,要塞
infantry: 步兵

中国日报网英语点津版权说明:凡注明来源为“中国日报网英语点津:XXX(署名)”的原创作品,除与中国日报网签署英语点津内容授权协议的网站外,其他任何网站或单位未经允许不得非法盗链、转载和使用,违者必究。如需使用,请与010-84883631联系;凡本网注明“来源:XXX(非英语点津)”的作品,均转载自其它媒体,目的在于传播更多信息,其他媒体如需转载,请与稿件来源方联系,如产生任何问题与本网无关;本网所发布的歌曲、电影片段,版权归原作者所有,仅供学习与研究,如果侵权,请提供版权证明,以便尽快删除。
相关文章 Related Story
 
 
 
本频道最新推荐
 
赌球“投注单” betting slips
日公司聚焦海外市场 要求员工说英语
西班牙绝杀荷兰 登顶世界杯
The Week July 9, 2010
与tie有关的口语表达
翻吧推荐
 
论坛热贴
 
原来国家的名字如此浪漫
Funny lines about getting married
关于工资的英语词汇大全
关于职业装的英语词汇
余光中《尺素寸心》(节选)译