Discussion

Cotton is composed of cellulose, a polysaccharide found in plants. Nitrocellulose is made by treating cellulose with nitric acid. This introduces strongly oxidizing nitro groups into the molecule. Having fuel and oxidizer in the same molecule makes the nitrocellulose burn very rapidly.

Narration

A piece of cotton is placed in a flame. It burns slowly. A piece of cotton that has been nitrated to form nitrocellulose flashes immediately and is totally consumed.