Which outcome occurred if the Chinese manufactured early gunpowder with potassium nitrate rather than sodium nitrate?

💡 Explanation

In early gunpowder, hygroscopic nitrates caused inconsistency; deliquescence degrades the mixture via WATER ABSORPTION. Because potassium nitrate is less hygroscopic than sodium nitrate, less moisture is collected therefore mixtures maintain better ratios of fuel:oxidizer rather than changing composition, leading to poor performance.

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