Nitrocellulose (guncotton)

A sample of nitrocellulose is prepared by treating cotton wool (cellulose) with a mixture of concentrated nitric acid and sulfuric acid. The resulting material looks like ordinary cotton but it burns much more fiercely, in a sudden flash. Only gaseous products are formed, so the combustion is ashless and smokeless. The combustion is indeed so rapid that it can even be carried out on the flat hand. Finally, a chemical ignition system activated by a drop of water is shown.