Why is ammonium nitrate explosion so powerful? How to avoid such accidents

A violent explosion occurred in the port area of Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, on the evening of the 4th, causing a large number of casualties. At present, the specific cause of the explosion is still unclear, but several Lebanese government officials said that the explosion may have been caused by 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate stored in the port warehouse. What is ammonium nitrate? Why is its explosive power so powerful? How to avoid such accidents?

Ammonium nitrate is a colorless and odorless crystal, easily soluble in water. Ammonium nitrate has a wide range of uses and can be used as fertilizer and explosives. When used as a chemical fertilizer, ammonium nitrate is often present in granular form, and it can quickly dissolve when encountering water, thereby releasing nitrogen, the nutrient needed for plant growth.

Ammonium nitrate can also be used as a raw material for explosives. Although it is stable and non-flammable at room temperature, it is also an oxidant. When it encounters combustibles on fire, it can promote the fire, and can react with combustibles to explode. Ammonium nitrate can also explode when heated or subjected to severe impact. Depending on the heating temperature, the decomposition products are also different; the higher the temperature, the faster the relevant reaction, and when it is above 400 degrees Celsius, it will violently decompose and explode. When ammonium nitrate is mixed with reducing agents, organic substances, flammable substances, etc., explosive mixtures can also be formed.

How powerful is the explosion of 2750 tons of ammonium nitrate? According to industry insiders, the destructiveness of the accident in the Beirut port area is equivalent to the impact of shock waves and air waves caused by the explosion of a small nuclear bomb, destroying a large number of buildings.

According to experts, in order to ensure safety and avoid such accidents from happening again, ammonium nitrate must be stored in a cool, dry and well-ventilated warehouse, away from fire and heat sources. At the same time, ammonium nitrate should be stored separately from combustibles, reducing agents, acids, and active metal powders. Since ammonium nitrate is prone to explosion after being impacted, impact and friction are strictly prohibited during storage and transportation.