Black powder consists of a fuel and an oxidizer and sulphur, to allow for a stable reaction. Charcoal as a fuel and the saltpetre as an oxidizer. The carbon from the charcoal plus oxygen produces carbon dioxide which is energy. This reaction would be slow, like a wood fire, except for the oxidizing agent the potassium nitrate. Since the carbon in a fire must have oxygen from the air. Saltpetre provides the extra oxygen it needs. Potassium nitrate, sulphur, and carbon react together to form nitrogen and carbon dioxide gases and potassium sulphide. These expanding gases, nitrogen and carbon dioxide, provide the propelling action of the fireworks to fly.
It’s not very complicated to make black powder. Typical modern gunpowder consists of 75% potassium nitrate (KNO3), 15% charcoal (carbon), and 10% Sulphur. But these percentages change with the types of fireworks because the changing of the amounts of the ingredients affects the rate in which the black power burns and the amount of smoke that is made.
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