Guncotton is an explosive made by steeping cotton in nitric and sulfuric acid. It was invented by accident in 1845, when chemist Christian Schoenbein cleaned up a chemical spill with a cotton towel and set it by the fire to dry.

nitric acid esters; used in lacquers and explosives

A cellulose material which has been treated with appropriate chemicals to produce nitrocellulose, an extremely combustible material. Used as a bullet propellant.

Nitro-cellulose, a form of smokeless propellant.

See under Gun.