Description:
Ammonium nitrate is a white crystalline solid commonly used as a high-nitrogen fertilizer and as an oxidizer in industrial explosives. Its chemical formula is NH4NO3 and it is valued in agriculture because it supplies both ammonium and nitrate forms of nitrogen that plants can absorb. Beyond farming, ammonium nitrate serves in mining, quarrying, and construction when combined with fuel oil for controlled blasting, and it is a raw material for some cold packs and nitrification studies.
Despite its utility, ammonium nitrate presents significant hazards. It is an oxidizer that can accelerate combustion of combustible materials and, under confinement or intense heat, may undergo rapid decomposition leading to fire or explosion. Historic industrial accidents have shown that poor storage, contamination with incompatible substances like fuels or organic matter, and inadequate temperature control greatly increase risk. Dust, moisture, and physical compaction can also change its properties and stability.