I got a chemistry set when I was ll. Took me a while but I learned to make good old Black Powder from Potassium Nitrate, Sulfur, and charcoal. All readily purchased at the local drug store. Worked good on stump removal projects. Now nitrocellulose is even better, less smoke and there for greener. lol.. Couple of acids and a bunch of cotton. I survived. Now the kids want C4 or Semtex. Picric acid is old hat.