Some examples are: dynamite, trinitrotoluene, and many more.
The first material that is used for explosive was black powder. Black powder is similar to gunpowder; it is a mixture of potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur. It is assumed that as soon as guns were invented then gunpowder and black powder were discovered, but these and others have been used in pyrotechnic things for centuries. Evidence shows that Pyrotechnics were developed in the Far East. Pyrotechnics can be found all over the world now, because that is what fireworks are.
?Gunpowder, known in China as early as the ninth century, was first used in Europe during the 14th century? (New Standard Encyclopedia 1978), According to Trevor Williams gunpowder (Alfred Nobel, pioneer of high explosives 1980)described, but not invented, by Roger Bacon in the thirteenth century a mixture of saltpeter, charcoal, and sulfur. This isexplosive? in the sense that once ignited it continues to burn even without air.? Roger Bacon was the first scholar in northern Europe who was acquainted with the use of saltpeter in explosive mixtures. When black powder burns it produces white smoke. Black powder works great for creating a quick hot flame. Even though smokeless powder has hardly any smoke, black powder is a better igniter for smokeless powder.
Captain Schultze of the Prussian Artillery made the first successful smokeless powder in 1864. He added purified potassium nitrate to purified wood. The added nitrates reduced the rate of burning, but they were still too fast for rifles, so it was used in shotguns. .
Fulminating gold, silver, and platinum are formed by precipitating solutions of the metals with ammonia, was being experimented with in the 1600's. They are dangerously sensitive, and are not suited to practical use. These and others are used in primers where a shock or friction to produce ignition of powder are desired. They use in detonators also.