Smokeless gun powders are produced in two different forms: single and double base. While the powder contains many chemicals to generate the desired ignition, it is composed mostly of a chemical called Nitrocellulose.

Single-base powders harness their main source of energy from Nitrocellulose. Double-base powder harness both Nitrocellulose and Nitroglycerin. Ignition of gun powder happens when the granules are heated above their ignition temperate. That temperature varies depending on what type of powder it is and what it was designed for.

While gun powder does contain chemicals common to explosives such as Dynamite it is still very different. When gun powder is ignited, the reaction is refereed to as Deflagration. This is the same reaction that occurs naturally with heat transfer which causes combustion and then fire. The main different being deflagration occurs at a subsonic rate. While detonation (explosion), occurs at a supersonic rate.