Nitrostarch

[2] The solubility, detonation velocity, and impact sensitivity depend heavily on the level of nitration.

[2] Nitrostarch is made by dissolving starch in red fuming nitric acid.

[2] Nitrostarch can be stabilized by refluxing it in ethanol to drive off the left over nitric acid.

[2] Nitrostarch was first discovered by French chemist and pharmacist Henri Braconnot.

[3] After stabilizers (such as ammonium oxalate) were devised in the early 1900s to prolong its shelf life, it was started to be used as an industrial explosive.