An oxidizer is a substance that achieves combustion, or, failing that, contributes to its acceleration.
The oxidizer oxidizes the fuel in question to finally be completely reduced by the latter.
The oxidizer par excellence turns out to be oxygenatmospheric to which we normally find it in the air we breathe in a percentage concentration by volume that is approximately 21%. All oxidizers have oxygen in their compositions, either in the form of molecular oxygen, as we just mentioned, or as ozone, different acids and oxacids that are responsible for releasing oxygen while combustion occurs.
Meanwhile, combustion is called reaction that occurs between oxygen and a combustible material which, by releasing energy, usually causes incandescence or flame.
To achieve combustion, a minimum proportion of oxygen will be necessary, which can range between 15% and 5%.
On the contrary, when oxygen is not available or it is necessary to achieve a very strong combustion, it is recommended to use gaseous or liquid oxygen or compound-type oxidizers, such as the rockets used by space shuttles.
In the combustion that occurs in gunpowder, inside a cartridge, oxygen will be provided by the salt of an oxacid (potassium nitrate or potassium chlorate), which when in contact will trigger a very strong exothermic reaction with significant heat release .
