Explain why the potassium chlorate (KClO3) is more reactive than the potassium nitrate (KNO3) when used in a mixture of Carbon and Sulfur to make gunpowder.
Also why is ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) less reactive than the potassium nitrate (KNO3) when used in the mixture of Sulfur and Carbon to make the gunpowder.
The reactions for gunpowder using the above reagents are:
2KClO3 + S + 3C ---> K2S + Cl2+ 3CO2
2KNO3 + S + 3C ----> K2S + N2 +3CO2
NH4NO3 + S + 3C ---->(NH4)2S + N2 + 3CO2