Gunpowder was the first chemical explosive and propellant.火药是最早出现的化学炸药和推进剂.Prior to the invention of gunpowder ,many incendiary bombs and burning devices had been used.在火药发明之前，人们使用过许多燃烧弹和燃烧设备.The invention of gunpowder is usually attributed to Chinese alchemy.人们通常把火药的发明归因于中国的炼金术.It is known to all that gunpowder is listed as one of the "Four Great Invention"of China.众所周知，火药被列为中国四大发明之一.The invention was made perhaps as early as in the Tang Dynasty.这项发明可能早在唐朝就已经研制出来了Knowledge of gunpowder was spread throughout the the world as a result of the Mongol conquests in the 13th century.It was employed in warfare to some errect from at least the 14th century.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，火药就已经被应用于战争并产生了一定影响.