Mystery Powder: Uncovering the Secret Behind Its Creation

AI Thread Summary
A user experimented with a mixture of alum, flour, and cornstarch in equal parts, heating it until no smoke was produced, but the initial attempt to create a rapidly oxidizing powder failed. The residue was later used as a substitute for charcoal in gunpowder production, yielding successful results. However, the user observed that the residue turned a vibrant red upon cooling, leading to confusion about its composition. There is speculation that the red residue could be potassium polysulfides, particularly if the "flower" referred to is sulfur flower. Further clarification and visual evidence were requested to identify the substance accurately.
Donman
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Ok so I mixed alum (aluminium potassium sulfate... I think), flower,and cornstarch in a 1:1:1 ratio, and put that in a covered pot and heated it till it produced no more smoke/fumes. This was an attempt to make a rapidly oxidizing powder in air. It was very blind science, I am sorry to say. It didn't work so I took the residue and ground it up and saved it.

Then one day I was making gun powder and I didn't have enough charcoal, or sugar. Then I remembered that I had made that an it was mostly carbon any way. So I substituted it in for charcoal. It worked like a champ. But I soon noticed that the residue left behind seemed to turn a very vibrant red as it cooled.

This really puzzles me I don't know what it is. It looks like red phosphorus but, I don't think any of the chemicals contained phosphorus. What have I made?? Please some one help me out here.
 
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It would be great if you could show us a picture of it.
 
With "flower" you mean "sulfur flower"?
If it's so, than that red residue, IMO, could be made of potassium polisulfides.
 

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