Ammonium nitrate

Ammonium nitrate
Ammonium nitrate
Identifiers
CAS number 6484-52-2 YesY
ChemSpider 21511 YesY
UNII T8YA51M7Y6 YesY
UN number 0222with > 0.2% combustible substances
1942with <= 0.2% combustible substances
2067fertilizers
2426liquid
RTECS number BR9050000
Jmol-3D images Image 1
Properties
Molecular formula (NH4)(NO3)
Molar mass 80.052 g/mol
Appearance white solid
Density 1.725 g/cm3 (20 °C)
Melting point

169.6 °C

Boiling point

approx. 210 °C decomp.

Solubility in water 118 g/100 ml (0 °C)
150 g/100 ml (20 °C)
297 g/100 ml (40 °C)
410 g/100 ml (60 °C)
576 g/100 ml (80 °C)
1024 g/100 ml (100 °C) [1]
Structure
Crystal structure trigonal
Explosive data
Shock sensitivity very low
Friction sensitivity very low
Explosive velocity 5270 m/s
Hazards
MSDS ICSC 0216
EU Index not listed
Main hazards Explosive
NFPA 704
NFPA 704.svg
0
2
3
OX
LD50 2085–5300 mg/kg (oral in rats, mice)[2]
Related compounds
Other anions Ammonium nitrite
Other cations Sodium nitrate
Potassium nitrate
Hydroxylammonium nitrate
Related compounds Ammonium perchlorate
 YesY (verify) (what is: YesY/N?)
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

The chemical compound ammonium nitrate, the nitrate of ammonia with the chemical formula NH4NO3, is a white crystalline solid at room temperature and standard pressure. It is commonly used in agriculture as a high-nitrogen fertilizer, and it has also been used as an oxidizing agent in explosives, including improvised explosive devices. It is the main component of ANFO, a very popular explosive. It is used in instant cold packs, as hydrating the salt is an endothermic process.

Contents

Application

Heating or any ignition source may cause violent combustion or explosion.[3] Ammonium nitrate reacts with combustible and reducing materials as it is a strong oxidant. It is widely used in fertilizers and explosives. Ammonium nitrates are also used to modify the detonation rate of other explosives. Example will be ammonia dynamites (Nitroglycerin).

The increased level of misuse by terrorists prompted the need to change how these substances should be dealt with. For example in Australia, the Dangerous Goods Regulations came into effect in August 2005 to enforce licensing in dealing with such substances.[4] Licenses are only granted to applicants (industry) with appropriate security measures in place to prevent any misuse.[5] Additional uses such as education and research purposes may also be considered but individual use will not. Employees of those with licenses to deal with the substance are still required to be supervised by authorized personnel and are required to pass a security and national police check before a license may be granted.

Production

The processes involved in the production of ammonium nitrate in industry, although chemically simple, are technologically challenging. The acid-base reaction of ammonia with nitric acid gives a solution of ammonium nitrate:[6]

HNO3(aq) + NH3(l) → NH4NO3(aq)

For industrial production, this is done using anhydrous ammonia gas and concentrated nitric acid. This reaction is violent and very exothermic. After the solution is formed, typically at about 83% concentration, the excess water is evaporated to an ammonium nitrate (AN) content of 95% to 99.9% concentration (AN melt), depending on grade. The AN melt is then made into "prills" or small beads in a spray tower, or into granules by spraying and tumbling in a rotating drum. The prills or granules may be further dried, cooled, and then coated to prevent caking. These prills or granules are the typical AN products in commerce.

The Haber process combines nitrogen and hydrogen to produce ammonia, part of which can be oxidized to nitric acid and combined with the remaining ammonia to produce the nitrate. Another production method is used in the so-called Odda process.

Ammonium nitrate is also manufactured by amateur explosive enthusiasts by metathesis reactions:

(NH4)2SO4 + 2 NaNO3 → Na2SO4 + 2 NH4NO3
Ca(NO3)2 + (NH4)2SO4 → 2 NH4NO3 + CaSO4

Sodium sulfate is removed by lowering the temperature of the mixture. Since sodium sulfate is much less water-soluble than ammonium nitrate, it precipitates, and may be filtered off. For the reaction with calcium nitrate, the calcium sulfate generated is quite insoluble, even at room temperature.

Reactions

Ammonium nitrate reacts with alkali metal hydroxides, releasing ammonia and forming alkali metal nitrate:

NH4NO3 + NaOH → NH3 + H2O + NaNO3
NH4NO3 + KOH → NH3 + H2O + KNO3

Ammonium nitrate gives ammonium chloride and nitric acid upon reaction with hydrochloric acid:

NH4NO3 + HCl → NH4Cl + HNO3

Ammonium nitrate is also formed in the atmosphere from emissions of NO, SO2 and NH3 and is a secondary component of PM10. [7]

Crystalline phases

Transformations of the crystal states due to changing conditions (temperature, pressure) affect the physical properties of ammonium nitrate. The following crystalline states have been identified:

System Temperature (°C) State Volume Change (%)
- >169.6 liquid -
I 169.6 to 125.2 cubic +2.1
II 125.2 to 84.2 tetragonal -1.3
III 84.2 to 32.3 α-rhombic +3.6
IV 32.3 to −16.8 β-rhombic −2.9
V −16.8 tetragonal -

The type V crystal is a quasi-cubic form which is related to caesium chloride, the nitrogens of the nitrates and the ammoniums are at the sites in a cubic array where Cs and Cl would be in the CsCl lattice. See C.S. Choi and H.J. Prask, Acta Crystallographica B, 1983, 39, 414-420.

Health hazards[8] [9]

Ammonium Nitrate is not an extreme hazardous chemical[citation needed], and usually used in fertilizer products. Thus, the chances of direct personal exposure to the chemical are very low.

Ammonium nitrate has toxicity[clarification needed] of 2217 mg/kg.[citation needed]

Acute health effects

Short-term exposure to ammonium nitrate can cause symptoms ranging from minor irritation to nausea, vomiting, gastric irritation, headaches, dizziness and hypertension. [10]

Area of exposure Hazardous level
Ingestion Moderate Hazardous
Skin contact Moderate Hazardous (irritant)
Eye contact Moderate Hazardous
Inhalation Moderate Hazardous

Long-term health effects

No data suggest that there are any chronic effects with long-term exposure.

Types of effect Effect level
Carcinogenic effects None
Mutagenic effects None
Teratogenic effects None
Developmental toxicity None
Prolonged exposure None

Disasters

Ammonium nitrate decomposes into gases including oxygen and Nitrogen to make Nitrous oxide when heated (non-explosive reaction); however, ammonium nitrate can be induced to decompose explosively by detonation. Large stockpiles of the material can be a major fire risk due to their supporting oxidation, and may also detonate, as happened in the Texas City disaster of 1947, which led to major changes in the regulations for storage and handling.

There are two major classes of incidents resulting in explosions:

  • In the first case, the explosion happens by the mechanism of shock-to-detonation transition. The initiation happens by an explosive charge going off in the mass, by the detonation of a shell thrown into the mass, or by detonation of an explosive mixture in contact with the mass. The examples are Kriewald, Morgan (present-day Sayreville, New Jersey), Oppau and Tessenderlo.
  • In the second case, the explosion results from a fire that spreads into the ammonium nitrate itself (Texas City, Brest, Oakdale), or from a mixture of ammonium nitrate with a combustible material during the fire (Repauno, Cherokee, Nadadores). The fire must be confined at least to a degree for successful transition from a fire to an explosion (a phenomenon known as "deflagration-to-detonation transition", or DDT). Pure, compact AN is stable and very difficult to ignite, and there are numerous cases when even impure AN did not explode in a fire.

Ammonium-nitrate-based explosives were used in the Oklahoma City bombing and in the 2011 Delhi bombing.

Ammonium nitrate decomposes in temperatures normally well above 200°C. However the presence of impurities (organic and/or inorganic) will often reduce the temperature point when heat is being generated. Once the AN has started to decompose, then a runaway reaction will normally occur as the heat of decomposition is very large. AN evolves so much heat that this runaway reaction is normally impossible to stop. This is a well-known hazard with some types of N-P-K Fertilizers, and it is responsible for the loss of several cargo ships.

Under normal handling conditions, ammonium nitrate is not harmful. However, inhalation of high concentrations of ammonium nitrate dust can cause respiratory tract irritation. Symptoms may include: coughing, sore throat, shortness of breath, or even suffocation. When swallowed in high concentrations, ammonium nitrate may cause headache, dizziness, abdominal pain, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, weakness, a tingling sensation, heart and circulation irregularities, convulsions, collapse, and suffocation. Ammonium nitrate forms a mild acid when mixed with water. This acid can cause irritation to the eyes, nose, and skin.[11]

In November 2009, a ban on ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, and calcium ammonium nitrate fertilizers was imposed in the former Malakand Division—comprising the Upper Dir, Lower Dir, Swat, Chitral, and Malakand districts of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan—by the NWFP government, following reports that those chemicals were used by militants to make explosives. In January 2010, these substances were also banned in Afghanistan for the same reason.

References

  1. ^ Pradyot Patnaik. Handbook of Inorganic Chemicals. McGraw-Hill, 2002, ISBN 0-07-049439-8
  2. ^ Martel, B.; Cassidy, K. (2004). Chemical Risk Analysis: A Practical Handbook. Butterworth–Heinemann. pp. 362. ISBN 1-903996-65-1. 
  3. ^ Pradyot Patnaik (2002). Handbook of Inorganic Chemicals. McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-049439-8. 
  4. ^ Dangerous Goods (HCDG) Regulations
  5. ^ Ammonium Nitrate-Regulating its use, Balancing Access & Protection from "Worksafe Victoria". http://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/wsinternet/worksafe/home/forms+and+publications/publications/import_ammonium+nitrate+-+regulating+its+use%2C+balancing+access+_+protection. 
  6. ^ http://www.google.com/patents/pdf/Process_of_producing_concentrated_soluti.pdf?id=XronAAAAEBAJ&output=pdf&sig=ACfU3U0iYFRDUxltKLaVind-3wwP_JYPxg
  7. ^ Int Panis, LLR (2008). "The Effect of Changing Background Emissions on External Cost Estimates for Secondary Particulates". Open Environmental Sciences 2: 47–53. http://www.bentham.org/open/toenvirj/articles/V002/47TOENVIRSJ.pdf. 
  8. ^ "Chemicalland21". http://chemicalland21.com/industrialchem/inorganic/ammonium%20nitrate.htm. 
  9. ^ "Ammonium Nitrate". Paton Fertilizers Pty Ltd. 2005. Available from"Duralite". http://www.duralite.com.au/safety/AMMONIUM%20NITRATE.pdf. 
  10. ^ Martel, B.; Cassidy, K. (2004). Chemical Risk Analysis: A Practical Handbook. Butterworth–Heinemann. ISBN 1-903996-65-1. 
  11. ^ The Hazards and Dangers of Ammonium Nitrate [Ammonium Nitrate Dangers | http://www.nortechlabs.com/hazards-ammonium-nitrate.html]
  • Properties: UNIDO and International Fertilizer Development Center (1998), Fertilizer Manual, Kluwer Academic Publishers, ISBN 0-7923-5032-4.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • ammonium nitrate — n a colorless crystalline salt NH4NO3 used in explosives and fertilizers and in veterinary medicine as an expectorant and urinary acidifier * * * NH4NO3; a chemical used in fertilizers, in matches, and in the manufacture of nitrous oxide gas and… …   Medical dictionary

  • ammonium nitrate — n. a colorless, crystalline salt, NH4NO3, used in some explosives, as a fertilizer, and in rocket fuel …   English World dictionary

  • ammonium nitrate — Chem. a white, crystalline, water soluble powder, NH4NO3, usually produced by reacting nitric acid with vaporous ammonia: used chiefly in explosives, fertilizers, freezing mixtures, and in the manufacture of nitrous oxide. [1880 85] * * * ▪… …   Universalium

  • ammonium nitrate — amonio nitratas statusas T sritis chemija formulė NH₄NO₃ atitikmenys: angl. ammonium nitrate; ammonium saltpeter, US; ammonium saltpetre, GB; German saltpeter rus. аммиачная селитра; аммония нитрат ryšiai: sinonimas – amonio trioksonitratas… …   Chemijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • Ammonium nitrate disasters — Ammonium nitrate decomposes into gases including oxygen when heated (non explosive reaction); however, ammonium nitrate can be induced to decompose explosively by detonation. Large stockpiles of the material can be a major fire risk due to their… …   Wikipedia

  • ammonium nitrate limestone — klintinis amonio nitratas statusas T sritis chemija apibrėžtis Granuliuotas NH₄NO₃, turintis klinčių ar dolomito. santrumpa( os) KAN atitikmenys: angl. ammonium nitrate limestone; calcium ammonium nitrate rus. известково аммиачная селитра …   Chemijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • ammonium nitrate limestone — kalkių amonio salietra statusas T sritis chemija apibrėžtis Granuliuotas NH₄NO₃, turintis klinties ar dolomito. atitikmenys: angl. ammonium nitrate limestone; calcium ammonium saltpeter, US; calcium ammonium saltpetre, GB rus. известково… …   Chemijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil — ANFO ANFO (engl. Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil, Handelsname z. B. ANDEX) ist ein Gemisch aus geprilltem, porösem Ammoniumnitrat und Mineralöl bzw. Dieselöl (engl. fuel oil), welches im Bergbau als Sicherheitssprengstoff eingesetzt wird. Im… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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  • ammonium nitrate — /əˌmoʊniəm ˈnaɪtreɪt/ (say uh.mohneeuhm nuytrayt) noun a white, soluble solid salt, the nitrate of ammonia, NH4NO3, used in explosives, and fertilisers …  

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