Ammonium nitrate is a popular fertilizer since it provides half of the N in the nitrate form and half in the ammonium form. I know a bit about a technique called cut and fill mining. On the other hand Nitrate is transported up to the leaves, wher… It has the chemical formula NH 4 NO 3 and is used primarily to increase the nitrogen content of soil. Another important use of this chemical compound is in instant cold packs. HSE’s leaflet INDG230 Storing and handling ammonium nitrate provides information relating to the general duties imposed on employers by the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 with regard to the safe storage and handling of ammonium nitrate at, for example, harbours, merchant stores and manufacturers’ premises. The chemical is applied in granule form into the soil and quickly dissolves under moisture, allowing nitrogen to … It's also used to create controlled explosions in mining and quarrying. Ammonium nitrate is predominantly used in agriculture as a fertiliser. Ammonium nitrate sold for use as fertilizer is the same substance as ammonium nitrate sold as an explosive. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. A wide variety of ammonium nitrate used options are available to you, such as nitrogen fertilizer. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. It is a white crystalline solid consisting of ions of ammonium and nitrate. Ammonia + nitric acid → ammonium nitrate NH 3 (aq) + HNO 3 (aq) → NH 4 NO 3 (aq) Ammonium nitrate is a source of soluble nitrogen, so it can be used as a 'nitrogenous' fertiliser. It has been reported that the cause of the explosion in the Lebanon capital was ammonium nitrate. Ammonium nitrate can be mixed with other substances to make a bomb. It is predominantly used in agriculture as a high-nitrogen fertilizer. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Due to its low cost and high stability, ANFO is a component in 80% of the explosives used in North America. Ammonium nitrate is a chemical compound with the chemical formula NH4NO3. It is the main ingredient in the manufacture of commercial explosives used in mining and construction. View our online Press Pack. The chemical made the news again after a huge explosion in Beirut caused the death of 100 people and nearly 4,000 injuries. Ammonium nitrate, (NH4NO3), a salt of ammonia and nitric acid, used widely in fertilizers and explosives. Ammonium nitrate(NH4NO3) is used in: * Manufacturing of fertilizer. News Corp is a network of leading companies in the worlds of diversified media, news, education, and information services. Ammonium nitrate, an odorless, colorless crystal salt, is a common fertilizer, but is also used to make explosives, matches, and antibiotics. Ammonium nitrate can be used as fertilizer or as an explosive. First we need to understand the different ways these two nutrient forms are metabolized: Ammonium metabolism consumes much more oxygen than metabolism of Nitrate. For other inquiries, Contact Us. It is also one of … Ammonium nitrate is a crystal-like white solid which is made in large industrial quantities. Explosives made of ammonium nitrate, a common form of nitrogen fertilizer, are widely used in industry and have largely replaced dynamite in the blasting of … While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. These forms supply 50% of their N as pure nitrate and so instantaneously increase the quantity of nitrate in topsoil from a very low value, typically about 10 kg nitrate-N ha −1 , to 50 kg nitrate-N ha −1 or more depending on the amount applied. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. It accounts for about 4% of the total nitrogen-fertilizer utilization worldwide. Australia Taroom, Queensland August 30, 1972: 3 12 A truck carrying 12 tons of ammonium nitrate experienced an electrical fault and caught fire north of … Ammonium nitrate is predominantly used in agriculture as a high-nitrogen fertiliser. In addition to its many legitimate uses, ammonium nitrate was the primary explosive used in the deadly Oklahoma City bombing in April 1995. Other names we use for this compound are nitro-limestone and nitrochalk. These sugars have to be delivered from their production site in the leaves, down to the roots. Storing and handling ammonium nitrate. Ammonium nitrate has the chemical formula NH₄NO₃. Used to make fertilizers and explosives, and as a nutrient in producing antibiotics and yeast. By itself, ammonium nitrate is not regarded as dangerous but under certain conditions, it can become deadly. Ammonium nitrate definition is - a colorless crystalline salt NH4NO3 used in explosives and fertilizers and in veterinary medicine. Because solid ammonium nitrate can undergo explosive decomposition when heated in a confined space, government regulations have been imposed on its shipment and storage. Corrections? Ammonium nitrate is a chemical compound with the formula NHâNOâ. After the straight dynamites and gelatins, the next important advance in dynamite was the substitution... After the straight dynamites and gelatins, the next important advance in dynamite was the substitution...…, …example of the latter is ammonium nitrate, in which the cation is NH4+ and the...…. Ammonium nitrate is also one of the most commonly used high nitrogen fertilizers. It … Unfortunately ammonium nitrate is also used to create homemade explosives, often used by terrorists, called a fertilizer bomb. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. It was reported that 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate was stored in a warehouse for six years without safety measures. Ammonium nitrate is an odorless, nearly colorless crystal salt. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Comments are subject to our community guidelines, which can be viewed, The chemical is widely used as a fertiliser but has been used to make explosives because of its low cost, Wreckage from the 2001 chemical plant explosion in Toulouse, The blast in the port area of Beirut on August 4, Beirut explosion - Frantic search for hundreds of survivors trapped under rubble after blast so big it tore off clothes, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). It is highly soluble in water; heating of the water solution decomposes the salt to nitrous oxide (laughing gas). Ammonium nitrate is a chemical compound with the formula NH4 NO3, and it's made by combining ammonia with nitric acid. In Australia, 95% of ammonium nitrate is used as an explosive in the mining industry and 5% as a fertilizer, mainly by horticulturalists. Ammonium nitrate fertilizer is an industrially-produced chemical fertilizer. In this mixture, the ammonium nitrate is an oxidizing agent for fuel. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/science/ammonium-nitrate, National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubChem Compound - Ammonium Nitrate. Structure of the chemical compound ammonium nitrate, from which fertilizer is produced. Ammonium nitrate is a colourless crystalline substance (melting point 169.6 °C [337.3 °F]). Produced as small porous pellets, or “prills”, it’s one of the world’s most widely used fertilisers. The commercial grade contains about 33.5 percent nitrogen, all of which is in forms utilizable by plants; it is the most common nitrogenous component of artificial fertilizers. Ammonium nitrate fertilizer is a simple compound to make. Nitrogen is essential for … Ammonium is metabolized in the roots, where it reacts with sugars. Ammonium nitrate is commercially available and is often used in fertilizers and explosives. Ammonium nitrate is predominantly used in agriculture as a fertiliser. Calcium ammonium nitrate is an inorganic compound that is widely used as a fertilizer. Ammonium Nitrate Emulsion, Suspension, or Gel is ammonium nitrate suspended in a liquid. It is a white crystalline solid and is highly soluble in water. When mixed with fuel oils, the chemical creates a potent explosive that is widely used in the construction industry. In Europe ammonium nitrate or calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) is widely used. Most countries have regulations controlling the storage of ammonium nitrate to make it safe. Ammonium nitrate is a chemical compound used in agriculture as a fertilizer, to make pyrotechnics, as an ingredient in cold packs, and for science demonstrations. Its biggest use is as a source of nitrogen for fertiliser, but it is also used to create explosives … PM confirms lockdown WILL lift in stages & hospitality among last to fully reopen, PrettyLittleThing forced to call PEST CONTROL as customers 'find fleas in clothes', Moment girl who decapitated her mum tells 999 âI had her head in my handsâ, Outdoor pub pints by April & hopes hospitality could be normal by July, Four Covid symptoms 'MUST be added to official list after millions of cases', ©News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. * It is used in certain instant cold packs, because when it dissolve in water it release heat. But what is it and what is it used for? The chemical is applied in granule form into the soil and quickly dissolves under moisture, allowing nitrogen to be released. If there is a significant amount of ammonium nitrate it can generate enough heat to catch fire and continue to burn eventually causing an explosion.Â. You can also choose from polymer ammonium nitrate used, as well as from granular, powder, and prilled ammonium nitrate used, and whether ammonium nitrate used is ammonium sulphate, ammonium nitrate, or urea. * Making explosives. Ammonium nitrate, a salt of ammonia and nitric acid, used widely in fertilizers and explosives. This type of fertilizer is typically sold in a granular form, although other preparations and … Ammonium nitrate was also used to create the explosives used in the 2006 Mumbai train bombings. Omissions? Ammonium nitrate is also used in the explosives manufactured in the mining industry. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Ammonium nitrate is a common industrial chemical used mainly for fertiliser because it is a good source of nitrogen for plants. About 80 percent of manufactured ammonium nitrate is used for fertiliser, particularly in the global agro-industrial system. The cause of the explosion was the ignition of ammonium nitrate used as raw material for fertilizer and explosives. Agricultural use. The ANSP Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) seeks to reduce the likelihood of a terrorist attack involving ammonium nitrate by: Creating a registration program for purchasers and sellers of ammonium nitrate. The chemical is classified as an âenergetic materialâ meaning that it produces heat as it decomposes. At CSBP, almost all of the 780,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate produced each year is used in the mining industry as a blasting agent. Ammonium Nitrate Uses and Sources. Global production was estimated at 21.6 million tonnes in 2017. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Global production, in the form of a white crystalline solid, runs … Updates? The main use of ammonium nitrate is as an additive to fertilizer, for helping nitrogen-poor soil. The material itself does not readily burn but will readily do so if contaminated by combustible material. With significant, secure storage of ammonium nitrate prill and nitric acid, the continuous operation of three world-class ammonium nitrate plants and the capacity to prioritise the supply of ammonium nitrate to the mining industry, CSBP is well … The main use of ammonium nitrate is as a fertiliser, marketed either as prills (small spheres) or granules. Another use of ammonium nitrate is in the food industry where it is used as a nutrient in producing antibiotics and yeast. Ammonium nitrate is the fertilizer compound that can be used in explosives, said John Goodpaster, who researches explosives at Indiana at University-Purdue University Indianapolis. A HUGE explosion erupted in Beirut on August 4 causing 100 deaths and nearly 4,000 injuries. Using ammonium nitrate in gardens and large scale agricultural fields enhances plant growth and provides a ready supply of nitrogen from which plants can draw. It is created when ammonia gas reacts with nitric acid. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. CAMEO Chemicals. Ammonium nitrate, the substance In its pure form, ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) is a white, crystalline chemical which is soluble in water. In most countries, it is used to make explosives for mining, quarrying and civil construction because of its low cost and ready availability. …acid treated with ammonia gives ammonium nitrate, a most important fertilizer. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. It is widely used for this purpose in agriculture around the world. Ammonium nitrate also is employed to modify the detonation rate of other explosives, such as nitroglycerin in the so-called ammonia dynamites, or as an oxidizing agent in the ammonals, which are mixtures of ammonium nitrate and powdered aluminum. We can denote this fertilizer compound as CAN. With this method, you drill into the end of a mining chamber called a stope, which is a bit like a tunnel with a brow coming down from the back (what we’d call the ceiling). It has been the cause of numerous industrial explosions over the last three decades, including the explosion at a chemical plant in Toulouse, France, in 2001 that killed 31 people. 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