Fertilizer how does it explode

The bonds between these elements are less stable than atmospheric N 2 bonds, so plants can more readily get at the nitrogen. The nitrate portion of the fertilizer NO 3 is already in the form plants can use; the ammonium portion NH 4 is slowly converted to usable nitrate by soil bacteria, and thus remains available to the plant for a longer time.

Now, think back to the very stable N 2 molecule. If a lot of energy is needed to split the two nitrogen atoms and break those bonds, then, conversely, a lot of energy is given off when two nitrogen atoms come together to make the bond.

The nitrogen atoms go from a less stable, high-energy state such as in NO 3 or NH 4 , to a very stable, low-energy state such as in N 2 , with the excess energy being released very rapidly, even explosively. Another concern is the gas that was stored at the plant. Ammonium nitrate is most commonly made from anhydrous ammonia gas; the Dallas News reports that fifty-four thousand pounds of the gas were stored at the plant.

But Dr. Akhavan made it clear that we should not be freaked out about ammonium nitrate. It is safe to use. So very rarely does it go up. So having a bag of ammonium nitrate fertilizer in your garage is not cause for concern. So keep on using it, your tomatoes will probably thank you. Ammonium nitrate melts on engulfment by fire, the hot molten ammonium nitrate runs to the lowest point and pools, it can also become contaminated by carbon, in a fire situation, making it more sensitive to impact and propagation of an explosion.

However, the hot molten ammonium nitrate by itself is more sensitive to impact than nitroglycerin. This is the key fact not mentioned in the article. Falling girders etc are then enough to start the detonation, which propagates through the remaining pile. The pelletized AN is mixed with diesel fuel and then detonated with dynamite or other high-explosives. So, the Mr. Hyde persona is in evidence frequently, albeit for constructive purposes. Email address is optional.

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