Ammonium nitrate is a chemical compound with the formula NH4 NO3, and it's made by combining ammonia with nitric acid. The blast injured thousands and killed at least 78 people. It is also the main component in many … It's something often referred to as a "Wilson cloud," Sella said, and typically happens when the air is humid. That kick is an ignition source, particularly if ammonium nitrate is left over time and it can harden, which makes the explosive force much more devastating. For this reason it is widely used in … Ammonium nitrate is a chemical compound that farmers normally spread as small pellets that dissolve in the soil and fertilize it. The more ammonium nitrate, or NH4-NO3, the … Ammonium nitrate has the chemical formula NH₄NO₃. And so when the two halves are forced in some way to come together, you get huge amounts of gas and huge amounts of heat out," he said. For combustion to occur, oxygen must be present. It is perfectly … Toxic oxides of nitrogen are … Ammonium nitrate is a crystal-like white solid which is made in large industrial quantities. What is it used for? But how can such a chemical cause such a massive and destructive blast? 4 months ago. Ammonium nitrate, (NH 4 NO 3 ), a salt of ammonia and nitric acid, used widely in fertilizers and explosives. Ammonium nitrate liquid is the white crystals dissolved in water. The air was then compressed in front of the shockwave, and the air behind it expanded. Ammonium nitrate is commercially available and is often used in fertilizers and explosives. It is principally used as an agricultural fertilizer, in the manufacturing of first aid products (such as cold packs), and explosives used in the mining and construction industries. Ammonium nitrate, which is used in fertilizers and bomb making, is a salt made from ammonium and nitric acid, and it is highly explosive. That would make it unlikely that serious levels would remain at ground level, he said. It is a priority for CBC to create a website that is accessible to all Canadians including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. Gabriel da Silva is a senior lecturer in chemical engineering at the University of Melbourne. "[Ammonium nitrate] is a great fertilizer for growing plants, but it's also wonderful as an explosive," Jimmy Oxley, a chemistry professor at the University of Rhode Island, told ABC News. For decades, Australia has produced, stored and used ammonium nitrate without a major incident. But on the other hand, given the right kind of kick, [it can] explode.". It is made by combining ammonia gas with liquid nitric acid, which itself is made from ammonia. ', linked to 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices. As an amateur astronomer, Nicole can be found looking up at the night sky appreciating the marvels of our universe. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. She is the editor of the Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada and the author of several books. Ammonium nitrate is a common industrial chemical used mainly for fertiliser because it is a good source of nitrogen for plants. Produced as small porous pellets, or “prills”, it’s one of the world’s most widely used fertilisers. In the case of Beirut, the fire that was evident ahead of the explosion acted as the fuel. Ammonium nitrate prills provide a much more concentrated supply of oxygen than the air around us. Ammonium nitrate is an industrial chemical commonly used around the world as an agricultural fertilizer, and in explosives for mining. "Any big explosion gives us a mushroom cloud," said Cheryl Rofer, a chemist who retired from the Los Alamos National Laboratory in Washington, D.C. "I think what threw a lot of people off and might have made them think it was nuclear was that spherical white cloud that formed and then dissipated rather quickly.". Ammonium nitrate is predominantly … What is Ammonium Nitrate? How is Ammonium Nitrate used? It is an oxidiser considered relatively safe if uncontaminated and … But one of the most dangerous aspects to ammonium nitrate is human complacency, said Miriam Diamond, a professor in the earth sciences department at the University of Toronto. A fire triangle consists of ammonium, oxygen and the ignition. Nicole has an avid interest in all things science. The Lebanese capital Beirut was rocked on Tuesday evening local time by an explosion that has killed at least 78 people and injured thousands more. Ammonium nitrate is used as fertilizers because it contains a high amount of nitrogen, which is very important for plants and vegetables. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. It may be considered the ammonium analog to potassium nitrate or saltpeter. But what about the Beirut case, where a massive amount of nitrogen dioxide was released into the atmosphere in one sudden explosion? * Ammonium nitrate is an industrial chemical commonly used in fertilisers and as an explosive for quarrying and mining. And there's nitrogen. Ammonium nitrate’s major use is as a fertiliser – this accounts for around 78% of its use (by volume) worldwide. Although some port officials have been placed under house arrest, it was still unclear … An ammonium nitrate explosion produces massive amounts of nitrogen oxides. Ammonium nitrate has the chemical formula NH₄NO₃. It is an oxidiser considered relatively safe if uncontaminated and … I have a degree in mining engineering, and I remember one of my profs who had a tremendous amount of experience said, 'One of the biggest threats is human failure.'". It’s also used in … Sella said that one of the most notable accidents was in Oppau, Germany, in 1921, when ammonium nitrate being stored in a silo had hardened over winter. What is it used for? Discover world-changing science. WATCH | Canadian visiting Lebanon describes impact of blast: And then there's the issue of storage. Images from Beirut reveal a distinct reddish colour to the plume of gases from the blast. “Ammonium nitrate is the ammonium salt of nitric acid. Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted. Scientific American is part of Springer Nature, which owns or has commercial relations with thousands of scientific publications (many of them can be found at, New DIY Contact Tracing App Is Based on the Science of Memory, Deliberate Efforts to Achieve Herd Immunity to COVID Are Dangerous, Restoring Seagrass Brings Barren Bays To Life. It is a white crystalline solid and is highly soluble in water. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. Its chemical formula is NH 4 NO 3 or N 2 H 4 O 3. * Ammonium nitrate is an industrial chemical commonly used in fertilizers and as an explosive for quarrying and mining. The latter is what happened in the 2015 Tianjin explosion, which killed 173 people after flammable chemicals and ammonium nitrate were stored together at a chemicals factory in eastern China. Instead, it acts as a source of oxygen that can accelerate the combustion (burning) of other materials. © 2020 Scientific American, a Division of Springer Nature America, Inc. Support our award-winning coverage of advances in science & technology. It has a role as a fertilizer, an explosive and an oxidizing agent. The other side has oxygen in it. The country’s prime minister Hassan Diab said the blast was caused by around 2,700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored near the city’s cargo port. "It's an interesting molecule because you have these white crystals, which if you keep them in a jar will sit for years on your laboratory shelf. By submitting a comment, you accept that CBC has the right to reproduce and publish that comment in whole or in part, in any manner CBC chooses. One of the most recent incidents was in 2015 in the Port of Tianjin, China. In pure form, ammonium nitrate … ', Lebanese prime minister vows someone will 'pay the price' for deadly explosion in Beirut, Lebanon to probe why ammonium nitrate sat for years at Beirut port, Sami Basbous says that hospitals are over capacity, and people 'are trying to help each other. This process creates gases including nitrogen oxides and water vapour. Ammonium nitrate, which Lebanese authorities have said was the cause of the Beirut blast, is an odourless crystalline substance commonly used as a fertiliser that has been the cause of … Officials said that while there are no residential … This is why it is effective in mining explosives, where it’s mixed with oil and other fuels. Ammonium nitrate decomposition can be set off if an explosion occurs where it’s stored, if there is an intense fire nearby. When ammonium nitrate is changed from a solid to a gas, one of the byproducts is nitrogen dioxide. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. Here in Australia, we produce and import large amounts of ammonium nitrate, mostly for use in mining. At high enough temperatures, however, ammonium nitrate can violently decompose on its own. It is also the main component in many types of mining explosives, where it’s mixed with fuel oil and detonated by an explosive charge. 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