Ammonium nitrate is a commonly used chemical compound with the chemical formula NH4NO3. It is widely used in agriculture as a fertilizer and also finds applications in mining and construction industries due to its explosive properties when mixed with fuel oils. However, it can also cause disasters if not handled properly.

Chemical Properties
Ammonium nitrate is an inorganic salt that is usually white or faint yellow in colour and comes in both prilled and granular forms. It is highly soluble in water and has a milky appearance when dissolved. Its melting point is around 169.6°C and it decomposes at approximately 210°C without exploding. When heated rapidly or detonated, ammonium nitrate can explode due to its oxidation properties. It is classified as an oxidizer and detonates when combined with a fuel and confined.

Agricultural Use
By far the largest end use of ammonium nitrate is as a fertilizer in agriculture where it provides nitrogen, a key nutrient necessary for plant growth. As ammonium nitrate dissolves readily in water, it is readily absorbed by plant roots. It has a nitrogen content of about 33%, making it one of the most commonly used nitrogen fertilizer worldwide. Farmers regularly apply it to soil and it slowly releases nitrogen into the soil over time as the plants need it. Its uniform prills or granules dissolve and release nitrogen into the soil for uptake by crops.

Mining and Construction
Ammonium Nitrate high explosive properties also make it useful in mining and construction applications involving controlled detonation. It is often mixed with fuel oils and other materials to produce explosives for activities like quarrying, excavation, seismic exploration and construction purposes. When combined with fuel in the right proportions and confined, ammonium nitrate explosions can break up rock for mining and demolition works. Some common commercial explosives using ammonium nitrate include ANFO, Slurry and Emulsions.

Industrial Uses
In industry, ammonium nitrate finds uses as an oxidation agent in the production of a variety of chemicals. It is used to produce nitric acid which in turn is used to make other nitrogen compounds. The nitrate produced also acts as an oxidant in flue gas treatment for removal of sulphur dioxide. It is a component in some metal melting fluxes and catalysts. Its storage stability and oxidizing power also make it suitable for metal recovery processes. Smaller specialty uses include ceramics, dye intermediates and even rocket fuels when mixed with fuels like aluminium powder.

Safety Concerns
While a stable compound when stored under suitable temperature and pressure conditions, ammonium nitrate poses safety risks which must be carefully managed. Confined explosions can occur when it is combined with fuels and subjected to heat or shock. Incidents involving ammonium nitrate explosions include the Halifax Explosion of 1917 and the Texas City Disaster of 1947. More recently, large stockpiles of improperly stored ammonium nitrate are suspected to have contributed to explosions at fertilizer plants in Toulouse, France in 2001 and West, Texas in 2013. Strict regulations govern its transportation and storage with a view to preventing accidental detonations during handling or warehousing.

Beirut Port Explosion
One of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history was caused by the detonation of a massive stockpile of improperly stored ammonium nitrate at the Port of Beirut, Lebanon on August 4, 2020. Around 2,750 tonnes of the chemical had been stored in a warehouse for 6 years without proper safety protocols. A fire nearby is believed to have set off the detonation of the ammonium nitrate, leading to an explosion that was felt over 150 miles away. The powerful blast left a 43m deep crater where the warehouse previously stood and resulted in over 200 deaths, thousands injured and widespread damage across the city of Beirut. The tragedy highlighted how catastrophic stockpiling large ammonium nitrate caches can be without adherence to basic safety regulations.

Ammonium nitrate is a key ingredient that is widely utilized as both a fertilizer and industrial explosive compound. While it has many useful applications, it poses serious explosion risks if not properly handled, transported and stored. Regulatory authorities worldwide oversee its production and end-use to balance its benefits with safety considerations, especially to prevent accidental detonation of large stockpiles. Greater public awareness of its potential dangers is also needed considering high profile disasters like Beirut that demonstrated its destructive power when ignition occurs in uncontrolled conditions. With responsible production and management practices in place, ammonium nitrate can continue to be an important chemical for agriculture, mining and industry.

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