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Ammonium Nitrate

Ammonium nitrate
Structural formula
Ammonium nitrate crystal structure
Sample of white powder
Names
IUPAC name
Ammonium nitrate
Identifiers
6484-52-2 YesY
3D model (Jmol) Interactive image
ChemSpider 21511 YesY
ECHA InfoCard 100.026.680
RTECS number BR9050000
UNII T8YA51M7Y6 YesY
UN number 0222with > 0.2% combustible substances
1942with <= 0.2% combustible substances
2067fertilizers
2426liquid
Properties
(NH4)(NO3)
Molar mass 80.043 g/mol
Appearance white/grey solid
Density 1.725 g/cm3 (20 °C)
Melting point 169.6 °C (337.3 °F; 442.8 K)
Boiling point approx. 210 °C;decomposes
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)
-33.6·10−6 cm3/mol
Structure
trigonal
Explosive data
Shock sensitivity very low
Friction sensitivity very low
Detonation velocity 5270 m/s
Hazards
Main hazards Explosive
Safety data sheet ICSC 0216
Explosive E (E)
NFPA 704
Flammability code 0: Will not burn. E.g., water Health code 1: Exposure would cause irritation but only minor residual injury. E.g., turpentine Reactivity code 3: Capable of detonation or explosive decomposition but requires a strong initiating source, must be heated under confinement before initiation, reacts explosively with water, or will detonate if severely shocked. E.g., fluorine Special hazard OX: Oxidizer. E.g., potassium perchlorateNFPA 704 four-colored diamond
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
LD50 (median dose)
2085–5300 mg/kg (oral in rats, mice)
Related compounds
Other anions
Ammonium nitrite
Other cations
Sodium nitrate
Potassium nitrate
Hydroxylammonium nitrate
Related compounds
Ammonium perchlorate
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
YesY  (what is YesYN ?)
Infobox references

Ammonium nitrate is a chemical compound, the nitrate salt of the ammonium cation. It has the chemical formula NH4NO3, simplified to N2H4O3. It is a white crystal solid and is highly soluble in water. It is predominantly used in agriculture as a high-nitrogen fertilizer. Its other major use is as a component of explosive mixtures used in mining, quarrying, and civil construction. It is the major constituent of ANFO, a popular industrial explosive which accounts for 80% of explosives used in North America; similar formulations have been used in improvised explosive devices. Many countries are phasing out its use in consumer applications due to concerns over its potential for misuse.

Ammonium nitrate is found as a natural mineral (ammonia nitre—the ammonium analogue of saltpetre and other nitre minerals such as sodium nitrate) in the driest regions of the Atacama Desert in Chile, often as a crust on the ground and/or in conjunction with other nitrate, chlorate, iodate, and halide minerals. Ammonium nitrate was mined there in the past, but virtually 100% of the chemical now used is synthetic.

The industrial production of ammonium nitrate entails the acid-base reaction of ammonia with nitric acid:

Ammonia is used in its anhydrous form (i.e., gas form) and the nitric acid is concentrated. This reaction is violent owing to its highly exothermic nature. 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.


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