Military applications early involvement

Much of the early use of chemical energy involved military applications. "Greek fire," first reported in the 7th century A.D., was probably a blend of sulfur, organic fuels, and saltpeter that generated flames and dense fumes when ignited. It was used in a variety of incendiary ways in both sea and land battles and added a new dimension to military science [2]. 

Since antiquity, and especially since the scientific revolution of the 17th century, scientists in Europe have Ijeen closely involved with the application of technical knowledge to military purposes. However, with the early twentieth century, this collaboration took on a new dimension. Whereas earlier, it generally fell to the military to apply empirical knowledge offered by science, now, scientists sought military applications for their discoveries, and entered into new institutional arrangements with the military. 

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