Gunpowder was the first chemical explosive and propellant. Prior to the invention of gunpowder, many incendiary bombs and burning devices had been used. The invention of gunpowder is usually attributed to Chinese alchemy. It is known to all that gunpowder is listed as one of the“Four Great Inventions”of China. The invention was made perhaps as early as in the Tang Dynasty. Knowledge of gunpowder was spread throughout the world as a result of the Mongol conquests in the 13th century. It was employed in warfare to some effect from at least the 14th century.
火药（gunpowder）是最早出现的化学炸药和推进剂（propellant）。在火药发明之前，人们使用过许多燃烧弹（incendiary bomb）和燃烧设备。人们通常把火药的发明归因于中国的炼金术（alchemy）。众所周知，火药被列为中国的“四大发明”之一。这项发明可能早在唐朝就已经研制出来了。由于13世纪蒙古人的征战，有关火药的知识被传到全世界。最晚从14世纪开始，火药就已经开始被应用于战争中并产生了一定的影响。
