when did the chinese invent gunpowder

The Chinese invented gunpowder during the late Tang dynasty in the 9th century AD. The earliest recorded chemical formula for gunpowder dates to the Song dynasty in the 11th century. Initially, gunpowder was developed by Taoist alchemists searching for the elixir of life, and its military application began around the 10th century with the use of fire arrows, bombs, and fire lances. The earliest confirmed reference to gunpowder in China appears in texts from the 9th century, and its widespread use in warfare evolved over the following centuries.