what type of solid is ammonium nitrate

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What is ammonium nitrate?

Ammonium nitrate is the ammonium salt of nitric acid. It has a role as a fertilizer, an explosive and an oxidising agent. It is an inorganic molecular entity, an ammonium salt and an inorganic nitrate salt. Ammonium nitrate is commercially available both as a colorless crystalline solid and processed into prills for specific applications.

What happens when ammonium nitrate is heated in water?

Ammonium nitrate. Ammonium nitrate is a colourless, crystalline substance (melting point 169.6° C [337.3° F]). It is highly soluble in water; heating of the water solution decomposes the salt to nitrous oxide (laughing gas). Because solid ammonium nitrate can undergo explosive decomposition when heated in a confined space,...

What is the solubility of ammonium nitrate in H2O?

Ammonium nitrate is a crystalline solid having a white/grey colour. It has a trigonal crystal structure. It is quite soluble in water; its solubility at 20 o C is 150g/100ml. The solubility increases to 1024g/100ml when the temperature is raised to 100o The dissolution of NH 4 NO 3 in H 2 O is highly endothermic.

What is the name of the compound NH4NO3?

Ammonium nitrate is a chemical compound with the chemical formula NH 4 NO 3. It is a white crystalline solid consisting of ions of ammonium and nitrate. It is highly soluble in water and hygroscopic as a solid, although it does not form hydrates.

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Is ammonium nitrate ionic or covalent?

ionic bondsAmmonium nitrate consists of tightly packed, ionic bonds.

Is ammonium nitrate a solid?

Ammonium nitrate is a chemical compound with the chemical formula NH4NO3. It is a white crystalline salt consisting of ions of ammonium and nitrate. It is highly soluble in water and hygroscopic as a solid, although it does not form hydrates. It is predominantly used in agriculture as a high-nitrogen fertilizer.

What type of solid Would ammonium nitrate form?

Ammonium nitrate is the nitrate salt of the ammonium cation (NH4NO3, sometimes written as N2H4O3) that is a white crystal solid and is highly soluble in water.

Is ammonium nitrate crystalline or amorphous?

Ammonium nitrate is a colourless crystalline substance (melting point 169.6 °C [337.3 °F]).

Is ammonium a metal?

Ammonium is expected to behave as a metal ( [NH 4] + ions in a sea of electrons) at very high pressures, such as inside gas giant planets such as Uranus and Neptune. Under normal conditions, ammonium does not exist as a pure metal, but does as an amalgam (alloy with mercury).

What is ammonium nitrate made of?

Ammonium nitrate is made by reaction of ammonia with nitric acid in water followed by careful evaporation of the water. Ammonia is most often prepared from atmospheric nitrogen, while nitric acid is prepared from the combustion of ammonia, and so ammonium nitrate is most conveniently manufactured where ammonia is made.

Why is ammonium nitrate not covalent?

Since ammonium is a cation and bonds with the anion nitrate, hence the compound is bonded by an ionic bond.

Is ammonium nitrate polar covalent?

NH4NO3 is a polar molecule. The two ions might bond by using hydrogen bonding. Another intermolecular force that could attract both ions to each other is dispersion forces which act on all pairs of molecules. The NH4NO3 molecule as a whole is hence polar.

What happens when ammonium nitrate is mixed with water?

Ammonium nitrate forms a mild acid when mixed with water. This acid can cause irritation to the eyes, nose, and skin.

What type of crystalline solid is potassium nitrate?

Classification of the given compounds as amorphous or crystalline solids: Amorphous solids: Polyurethane, Cellophane, Polyvinyl Chloride, Fiberglass, Teflon. Crystalline solids: Naphthalene, Benzoic acid, Potassium nitrate, and Copper.

Is ammonium nitrate a salt?

Ammonium nitrate is the ammonium salt of nitric acid. It has a role as a fertilizer, an explosive and an oxidising agent. It is an inorganic molecular entity, an ammonium salt and an inorganic nitrate salt.

Is ammonium nitrate a base?

So, Is NH4NO3 an acid or base? NH4NO3 is an acidic salt. It is formed from the neutralization of strong acid, namely Nitric acid (HNO3) with a weak base, namely Ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH). The aqueous solution of ammonium nitrate is slightly acidic, having a pH value of less than 7.

Is ammonium nitrate aqueous?

Ammonium nitrate is a chemical compound with the chemical formula NH 4NO 3. It is a white crystalline salt consisting of ions of ammonium and nitrate. It is highly soluble in water and hygroscopic as a solid, although it does not form hydrates....Ammonium nitrate.NamesRelated compoundsAmmonium perchlorate49 more rows

What happens when ammonium nitrate is added to water?

When ammonium nitrate is dissolved in a beaker containing water, the beaker becomes cold because it is an endothermic reaction that is it absorbs energy from the surroundings in the form of heat. Thus hydrating ammonium nitrate is an endothermic reaction, because of which the beaker becomes cold.

Is ammonium nitrate a salt?

Ammonium nitrate is the ammonium salt of nitric acid. It has a role as a fertilizer, an explosive and an oxidising agent. It is an inorganic molecular entity, an ammonium salt and an inorganic nitrate salt.

Do airbags still use ammonium nitrate?

Redesign comes after 6 deaths and hundreds of injuries linked to defective airbags. Less than two weeks after doubling its nationwide recall to 34 million vehicles, Takata has informed federal regulators it will no longer use ammonium nitrate in the design of its airbag inflators.

What is ammonium nitrate used for?

Used to make fertilizers and explosives, and as a nutrient in antibiotic and yeast growth. Ammonium nitrate is the nitric acid ammonium salt. It ha...

Is ammonium nitrate a base or acid?

Ammonium nitrate is not acid but a salt but the solution is acidic since it is a salt with a weak base (ammonium hydroxide) and a heavy nitric acid.

What happens when you mix water and ammonium nitrate?

It feels cold when ammonium nitrate is dissolved in water which indicates an endothermic reaction. In an endothermic reaction, the ammonium nitrate...

What can you do with ammonium nitrate?

Ammonium nitrate is a chemical compound used as a fertilizer in agriculture, for producing pyrotechnics, as an ingredient in cold packs, and for sc...

Is ammonium nitrate a good fertilizer?

Ammonium nitrate fertilizer is the compound’s most common application but it also has a very volatile quality, making it useful in some industries....

What is the effect of ammonium nitrate on rocket propellant?

One practical consequence of this is that ammonium nitrate formed as solid rocket motor propellant develops cracks, leading to the development of phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN), which incorporates metal halides as stabilisers.

How does ammonium nitrate decompose?

However, it can be induced to decompose explosively by detonation. Large stockpiles of the material can also be a major fire risk due to their supporting oxidation, a situation which can easily escalate to detonation. Explosions are not uncommon: relatively minor incidents occur most years, and several large and devastating explosions have also occurred. Examples include the Oppau explosion of 1921 (one of the largest artificial non-nuclear explosions ), the Texas City disaster of 1947, the 2015 Tianjin explosions in China, and the 2020 Beirut explosion.

What is the process of oxidizing ammonia?

Ammonia produced by the Haber process can be oxidized to nitric acid by the Ostwald process. Another production method is a variant of the nitrophosphate process : The products, calcium carbonate and ammonium nitrate, may be separately purified or sold combined as calcium ammonium nitrate .

How much humidity does ammonium nitrate have?

Ammonium nitrate has a critical relative humidity of 59.4%, above which it will absorb moisture from the atmosphere. Therefore, it is important to store ammonium nitrate in a tightly sealed container. Otherwise, it can coalesce into a large, solid mass. Ammonium nitrate can absorb enough moisture to liquefy.

Why is ammonium nitrate being phased out?

Many countries are phasing out its use in consumer applications due to concerns over its potential for misuse. Accidental ammonium nitrate explosions have killed thousands of people since the early 20th century.

What is anfo used for?

It is used in coal mining, quarrying, metal mining, and civil construction in undemanding applications where the advantages of ANFO's low cost and ease of use matter more than the benefits offered by conventional industrial explosives, such as water resistance, oxygen balance, high detonation velocity, and performance in small diameters.

What is the formula for ammonium nitrate?

Chemical compound. Ammonium nitrate is a chemical compound with the chemical formula NH 4 NO 3. It is a white crystalline solid consisting of ions of ammonium and nitrate. It is highly soluble in water and hygroscopic as a solid, although it does not form hydrates.

What is NH4NO3 used for?

ammonium nitrate, (NH4NO3), a saltof ammoniaand nitric acid, used widely in fertilizers and explosives. 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 nitratealso is employed to modify the detonation rate of other explosives, such as nitroglycerinin the so-called ammonia dynamites, or as an oxidizing agent in the ammonals, which are mixtures of ammonium nitrate and powdered aluminum.

What is the most common nitrogen in fertilizer?

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 also is employed to modify the detonation rate of other explosives, such as nitroglycerin in the so-called ammonia dynamites, ...

What is the most common nitrogenous component of artificial fertilizers?

Ammonium nitrate, a salt of ammonia and nitric acid, used widely in fertilizers and explosives. 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.

Why is ammonium nitrate used in dynamite?

Because solid ammonium nitrate can undergo explosive decomposition when heated in a confined space, government regulations have been imposed on its shipment and storage . After the straight dynamites and gelatins, the next important advance in dynamite was the substitution of ammonium nitrate for part of the...

Is ammonium nitrate a crystalline substance?

Ammonium nitrate is a colourless crystalline substance (melting point 169.6 °C [337.3 °F]). It is highly soluble in water; heating of the water solution decomposes the salt to nitrous oxide(laughing gas). Because solid ammonium nitrate can undergo explosive decomposition when heated in a confined space, government regulations have been imposed on its shipment and storage.

What is an encyclopedia editor?

Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. ...

What is Ammonium Nitrate?

Ammonium nitrate is an ionic salt made up of the ammonium cation (NH4)+ and the nitrate anion (NO3)–. The chemical formula of this compound is NH4NO3.

Why does ammonium nitrate feel cold?

It feels cold when ammonium nitrate is dissolved in water which indicates an endothermic reaction. In an endothermic reaction, the ammonium nitrate dissolves in water, a chemical reaction that absorbs heat rather than releases it. Ammonium nitrate consists of tightly packed, ionic bonds.

How to make NH4NO3?

NH 4 NO 3 can be prepared from the acid-base reaction between nitric acid and ammonia, described by the following chemical equation: NH3 + HNO3 → NH4NO3. This reaction is highly exothermic and proceeds violently. Ammonium nitrate is also known for its oxidizing powers.

What is the structure of ammonium nitrate?

Structure of Ammonium Nitrate. This compound features an ionic bond between an ammonium ion and a nitrate ion. The structure of an NH 4 NO 3 molecule is illustrated below. The pi electrons in the nitrate ion are delocalized due to resonance. The net charge on this ion is -1 (since the nitrogen atom holds a charge of +1 and each oxygen atom holds ...

Why is ammonium nitrate being phased out?

Despite its numerous applications, the use of this compound is being slowly phased out by the governments of many countries due to its scope for misuse. Ammonium nitrate was one of the key ingredients of the explosives that were used in the 2011 Delhi bombings and the 2013 blasts in Hyderabad.

What is the most common fertilizer used in plants?

Ammonium nitrate fertilizer is the compound’s most common application but it also has a very volatile quality, making it useful in some industries. The use of ammonium nitrate in gardens and large-scale growing fields stimulates plant growth and provides a ready source of nitrogen that plants can draw from.

Why are the pi electrons delocalized?

The pi electrons in the nitrate ion are delocalized due to resonance. The net charge on this ion is -1 (since the nitrogen atom holds a charge of +1 and each oxygen atom holds a charge of -⅔). Therefore, only one NH4+ ion can form an ionic bond with one NO3– ion.

What is ammonium nitrate and what is it used for?

A HUGE explosion erupted in Beirut on August 4 causing 100 deaths and nearly 4,000 injuries.

How long is ammonium nitrate safe?

It was reported that 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate was stored in a warehouse for six years without safety measures.

What is the chemical that produces heat?

The chemical is classified as an “energetic material” meaning that it produces heat as it decomposes. 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.

What was the cause of the Lebanon bombing?

It has been reported that the cause of the explosion in the Lebanon capital was ammonium nitrate. But what is it and what is it used for? Here is everything we know...

How many people died in the Toulouse explosion?

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.

Is ammonium nitrate soluble in water?

Ammonium nitrate is a chemical compound with the formula NH₄NO₃. It is a white crystalline solid and is highly soluble in water.

What are the Physical Properties of Ammonium Nitrate?

It is crystalline in nature. Ammonium nitrate is either white or grey coloured in its pure form. The density of the substance is noted as 1.725 gm per cm³.

How to Calculate the Molecular Weight of the Ammonium Nitrate?

Let us look at how to calculate the molecular weight of the given compound:

Where Does Ammonium Nitrate Occur Naturally?

It is found as gwihabaite which is called the Ammonium analogue of saltpetre. It is commonly found in the Atacama Desert in Chile. Only the driest regions of the desert are suitable for finding ammonium nitrate. In these regions, it is found as a crust on the ground. It is often found in conjunction with other compounds namely nitrates, iodates and other halide minerals.

How is Ammonium Nitrate Produced Industrially?

Most of the Ammonium nitrate that is produced is synthesized chemically. Industrial production of Ammonium nitrate is based on an acid-base reaction between ammonia and nitric acid. A molecule of Nitric acid (acidic) joins together with a molecule of ammonia (basic) to form a single molecule of ammonium nitrate. The reaction is summarized as:

What is AN melt?

This highly concentrated Ammonium nitrate is called Ammonium nitrate melt or AN melt. This AN is then converted into small beads in a spray tower. These beads are called prills. The AN melt is also converted to granules by spraying as well as tumbling inside a rotating drum. These granules or beads are then dried further and cooled. To prevent caking these prills or granules are coated. They are then prepared and sold off as commercial AN products.

How is ammonia produced?

This process requires ammonia which is is produced by the Haber process of combining hydrogen and nitrogen. The Ammonia produced by the Haber process is then oxidised to nitric acid through the Ostwald process. Another method of Ammonium nitrate production that is in use at an industrial scale is the Odda process.

What is ammonium nitrate made of?

Bookmark added to your notes. Ammonium nitrate is a chemical compound which has a number of uses and is made up of atoms of nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen. Ammonium nitrate has distinct chemical and physical properties which are used for a number of purposes. Ammonium nitrate is a chemical compound which is made up when an ammonium ion unites ...

What is Ammonium Nitrate?

Nitrogen comes in many forms. This major plant nutrient can be taken in by plants through the roots or from the stoma in the leaves and stems. Additional sources of nitrogen are often added to soil and plants in areas without sufficient natural sources of nitrogen.

How is ammonium nitrate fertilizer made?

Ammonium nitrate fertilizer is a simple compound to make. It is created when ammonia gas reacts with nitric acid. The chemical reaction produces a concentrated form of ammonium nitrate, which produces prodigious amounts of heat. As a fertilizer, the compound is applied as granules and fused with ammonium sulfate to minimize the volatile nature of the compound. Anti-caking agents are also added to the fertilizer.

What is the most important nutrient for plant growth?

One of the key needs for successful plant growth is nitrogen. This macro-nutrient is responsible for the leafy, green production of a plant and enhances overall health. Nitrogen is derived from the atmosphere, but this form has a strong chemical bond that is difficult for plants to uptake. Easier forms of nitrogen that occur in processed fertilizers include ammonium nitrate. What is ammonium nitrate? This type of fertilizer has been widely used since the 1940’s. It is a fairly simple compound to make and is inexpensive, making it a top choice for agricultural professionals.

What are the sources of nitrogen in soil?

One of the first solid nitrogen sources produced in a large scale capacity is ammonium nitrate.

What is fertilizer used for?

The most common uses for the fertilizer are in vegetable gardens and in hay and pasture fertilization due to the high nitrogen content.

Is ammonium nitrate a stable compound?

Ammonium nitrate in gardens is made stable with other compounds. The fertilizer is an almost instantly useable form of nitrogen due to its porosity and solubility. It provides nitrogen from both ammonia and nitrate. The standard method of application is by broadcast spreading the granules.

Is ammonium nitrate explosive?

In addition to its usefulness as a fertilizer, ammonium nitrate is also employed in certain industrial and construction settings. The chemical compound is explosive and useful in mining, demolition activities, and quarry work.

What is the name of the salt that is produced by the reaction of ammonia and nitric acid?

Ammonium nitrate is an odorless, colorless or white, crystal salt produced by the reaction of ammonia and nitric acid. How is Ammonium Nitrate used?

How to get rid of a swollen eyelid?

IMMEDIATELY flush eyes with running water for at least 15 minutes, keeping eyelids open. Obtain medical attention if irritation persists. Wash irritated skin with soap and water. Dry and cover skin with a good quality dermatologic skincare lotion. If irritation persists, seek medical attention. Loosen tight clothing.

How to prevent severe inhalation?

For severe inhalation: Use proper respiratory protection to evacuate affected individuals to a safe area as soon as possible. Loosen tight clothing around the neck and waist. Administer oxygen if breathing is difficult. Perform artificial respiration if not breathing.

How to stop toxic vapors?

If there has been a release of toxic vapors follow these steps: Go indoors immediately and close all doors, windows, and openings. Turn on your radio or television to a local news station. (Be prepared to wait a few minutes for news.) Follow any special instructions given over the radio or television, or by someone in authority.

Can ammonium nitrate explode?

Only under extreme conditions of heat and pressure in a confined space will ammonium nitrate explode. Should such an incident occur, there may be a visible cloud of ammonia, carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides.

How to induce vomiting?

For ingestion: If conscious, drink several glasses of water or milk and induce vomiting. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. Lower the head so that the vomit will not reenter the mouth and throat. Obtain medical attention.

Can ammonium nitrate cause diarrhea?

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 ...

Overview

Occurrence

Production, reactions and crystalline phases

Applications

Safety, handling, and storage

Health hazards

Disasters

See also