Which outcome occurred when early Chinese alchemists sought an elixir leading to gunpowder's accidental discovery?

💡 Explanation

The alchemists failed in their elixir pursuit triggering uncontrolled combustion via rapid oxidation because attempts combined sulfur, saltpeter, and charcoal; therefore, a flammable explosive, rather than a life-extending compound, was generated. This occurred via an exothermic chain reaction.

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