How To Make Smokeless Powder
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[1> Boil cotton for 30 minutes, in a 2% solution of sodium hydroxide.
[2> Wash the cotton in hot water and allow it to dry.
[3> Mix slowly and carefully at 25 degrees Centigrade, 250 cc. of concentrated
        sulfuric acid, 150 cc. of concentrated nitric acid, and 20 cc. of
        water. They must be kept at 25 degrees C.
[4> Next place the dried cotton in the acid solution, and stir well with
        either a glass or porcelain rod (do not use metal). This should be 
        done for 35 minutes.
[5> After nitration, the acids are washed away, and the cotton is washed in
        boiling water five times, each time for 25 minutes. The cotton is
        given several tests with litmus paper. If the litmus test proves
        that there is still some acid present, a 2% solution of sodium 
        bicarbonate should neutralize whatever is left. This is important, 
        since any remaining acid acts as an impurity to make the explosive
        more unstable.

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