Global production was estimated at 21.6 million tonnes in 2017. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Updates? Even so, plants can not use some of the nitrogen in either product until it has been converted to the Anitrate form. Ammonium nitrate fertilizer is an industrially-produced chemical fertilizer.It has the chemical formula NH 4 NO 3 and is used primarily to increase the nitrogen content of soil. The chemical is applied in granule form into the soil and quickly dissolves under moisture, allowing nitrogen to be released. Toxic oxides of nitrogen are … To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. It was first described in 1659 and, currently, is the most commercially important ammonium compound in production volume and usage … Ammonium nitrate is a chemical compound with the formula NH₄NO₃. The chemical is classified as an “energetic material” meaning that it produces heat as it decomposes. Most countries have regulations controlling the storage of ammonium nitrate to make it safe. This type of … The Ammonium Nitrate Security Program (ANSP) is the proposed regulatory program developed by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) in response to a directive from Congress to "regulate the sale and transfer of ammonium nitrate by an ammonium nitrate facility... to prevent the misappropriation or use of ammonium nitrate … What is calcium nitrate? In room temperature, ammonium nitrate appears in a white crystalline form and it is … It is highly soluble in water and hygroscopic as a solid, although it does not form hydrates. View our online Press Pack. Since ammonium nitrate has nitrate … Ammonium nitrate, a salt of ammonia and nitric acid, used widely in fertilizers and explosives. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. Ammonium Nitrate (a.k.a. For decades, Australia has produced, stored and used ammonium nitrate without a major … Ammonium nitrate is predominantly used in agriculture as a fertiliser. Liquid fertilizer solutions and fluid fertilizers are popular in many areas because they’re safe to handle, convenient to mix with other nutrients and chemicals, and are easily applied. Ammonium nitrate is a colourless crystalline substance (melting point 169.6 °C [337.3 °F]). Omissions? Calcium nitrate fertilizer is the only water soluble source of calcium available for plants. … By itself, ammonium nitrate is not regarded as dangerous but under certain conditions, it can become deadly. The order of ammonium nitrate was intended for manufacturing explosives for mining companies in Mozambique, the spokesperson said. In addition to its usefulness as a fertilizer, ammonium nitrate is also employed in certain industrial and construction settings. The commercial grade contains about 33.5 percent nitrogen, all of which is in forms utilizable by plants; it … Ammonium nitrate was also used to create the explosives used in the 2006 Mumbai train bombings. A HUGE explosion erupted in Beirut on August 4 causing 100 deaths and nearly 4,000 injuries. The chemical is applied in granule form into the soil and quickly dissolves under moisture, allowing nitrogen to be … 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. Ammonium nitrate is a crystal-like white solid which is made in large industrial quantities. Oversight Of Ammonium Nitrate Has 'Dangerous Gaps' The experts and regulators are calling for the federal government to renew efforts to bolster safe storage, handling, use and … Corrections? Structure of the chemical compound ammonium nitrate, from which fertilizer is produced. 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. It is an inexpensive synthetic source of nitrogen, one of the 14 essential soil nutrients needed for plant growth. Read on to learn how to use calcium nitrate and decide if it will be usef… It is predominantly used in agriculture as a high-nitrogen fertilizer. Though the material itself is noncombustible it will accelerate the burning of combustible materials. Ammonium nitrate is predominantly used in agriculture as a fertiliser. It has been reported that the cause of the explosion in the Lebanon capital was ammonium nitrate. Which areas could go into Tier 4 lockdown on Boxing Day? But there are some critical issues to understand to best protect a facility that stores or handles ammonium nitrate. In most countries, it is used to make explosives for mining, quarrying and civil construction because of its low cost and ready availability. It works both as a fertilizer and for disease control. Ammonium nitrate, the substance In its pure form, ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) is a white, crystalline chemical which is soluble in water. It is highly soluble in water; heating of the water solution decomposes the salt to nitrous oxide (laughing gas). Providing the correct amount of nutrients to your plants is crucial to their health and development. Ammonium nitrate sold for use as fertilizer is the same substance as ammonium nitrate sold as an explosive. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For other inquiries, Contact Us. 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 … The chemical compound is … 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. 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. When heated, ammonium nitrate decomposes non-explosively into gases of oxygen, nitrogen, and water vapor; however, it can be induced to decompose explosively by detonation into nitrous oxide and water … Ammonium nitrate and urea both contain the element nitrogen, but in different forms. Ammonium Nitrate Industrial Grade Low density Ammonium Nitrate explosive is used extensively in the mining industry and is intentionally made very porous to allow for the rapid uptake of liquid fuel oil. Ammonium Nitrate Ammonium nitrate was the first solid nitrogen (N) fertilizer produced on a large scale, but its popularity has declined in recent years. In Australia, 95% of ammonium nitrate … When mixed with fuel oils, the chemical creates a potent explosive that is widely used in the construction industry. Other Uses for Ammonium Nitrate. The chemical is applied in granule form into the soil and quickly dissolves under moisture, allowing nitrogen to be … AN) is an inorganic salt with colorless and odorless crystals that are soluble in most organic solvents. Ammonium nitrate can be used as fertilizer or as an explosive. Ammonium nitrate has various uses in various industries. When plants dont have enough of a certain nutrient, pests, disease and low bearing are often the result. It is a white crystalline solid and is highly soluble in water. Ammonium nitrate is commercially prepared by mixing ammonia salt and nitric acid. It is widely used … 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. After the straight dynamites and gelatins, the next important advance in dynamite was the substitution of ammonium nitrate for part of the... After the straight dynamites and gelatins, the next important advance in dynamite was the substitution of ammonium nitrate for part of the nitroglycerin to give a safer and less expensive product. Because solid ammonium nitrate can undergo explosive decomposition when heated in a confined space, government regulations have been imposed on its shipment and storage. 33.5% of nitrogen can be found in ammonium nitrate which is sold in the market. Ammonium nitrate is a chemical compound produced in both solid and liquid form that is com - monly used in fertilizers. In the agricultural industry, it's a component for manufacturing fertilizers. …acid treated with ammonia gives ammonium nitrate, a most important fertilizer. News Corp is a network of leading companies in the worlds of diversified media, news, education, and information services. 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). This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. It is a white crystalline solid consisting of ions of ammonium and nitrate. 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… The use of ammonium nitrate in explosives had been patented by others…, …example of the latter is ammonium nitrate, in which the cation is NH. Ammonium nitrate provides much needed nitrogen to lawn grasses and garden plants in an easily accessible form that doesn't leach out of the soil. Ammonium nitrate is a chemical compound with the formula NH4 NO3, and it's made by combining ammonia with nitric acid. A solution of urea [CO(NH₂)₂] and ammonium nitrate … Ammonium nitrate is an industrial chemical commonly used around the world as an agricultural fertilizer, and in explosives for mining. Another use of ammonium nitrate is in the food industry where it is used as a nutrient in producing antibiotics and yeast. It was reported that 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate was stored in a warehouse for six years without safety measures. It is the main ingredient in the manufacture of … 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 is a chemical compound with the formula NH4NO3. Ammonium nitrate, (NH4NO3), a salt of ammonia and nitric acid, used widely in fertilizers and explosives. The salt is hardly found in nature, for its high water solubility. It is composed of nitric acid and salt of ammonia. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Ammonium nitrate is the “N” in N-P-K synthetic lawn fertilizer. But what is it and what is it used for? Ammonium Nitrate Uses and Sources. Ammonium nitrate is a chemical compound with the chemical formula NH4NO3. The ammonium nitrate dissolves in water, and if the water is heated, the by-product will be a nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas. Pure ammonium nitrate is stable, and when stored properly, it poses few safety hazards. U.S. More areas across England plunged into tier 4 lockdown from BOXING DAY, Katie Price reveals trolls tell her she looks pregnant after putting on weight, Bride, 29, who faked terminal cancer and shaved her own head to get £8,500 jailed, UFO came within 20ft of crashing into packed passenger plane leaving Heathrow, ©News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. 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 is predominantly used in agriculture as a fertiliser. Ammonium nitrate is classified as dangerous goods and all aspects of its use are tightly regulated. Ammonium nitrate liquid is the white crystals dissolved in water. It has also been used as a key component in … It is most commonly used as fertilizer for agricultural purposes — … Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Ammonium nitrate is also one of the most commonly used high nitrogen fertilizers. I know a bit about a technique called cut and fill mining. Uses of ammonium nitrate To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. It’s been a common N source because it contains both … When you only apply ammonium nitrate, the plants use up the other nutrients in the soil and it becomes depleted, so farmers are not seeing the yields they need” even after spending $60—a … , you are agreeing to news, offers, and when stored properly, poses... 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