Ammonium Nitrate

Name:
Ammonium Nitrate
Detailed information:

Chemistry name:	Norway saltpeter
M Formula:	NH4NO3
Properties:
Colorless crystals. D 1.725, mp 169.6C, bp (decomposes at 210C with evolution of nitrous oxide). Soluble in water, alcohol, and alkalies.
Derivation:
Action of ammonia vapor on nitric acid.
Grade:
Usually expressed in percent of nitrogen, as 20.5% N, 33.5% N. FGAN is a fertilizer grade, prilled and usually coated with kieselguhr. Also available as an 83% solution. A temperature-stabilized grade is also available that inhibits breakdown of prills due to crystalline changes.
Hazard:
May explode under confinement and high temperatures, but not readily detonated. Ventilate well. To fight fire, use large amounts of water. The material must be kept as cool as possibleand removed from confinement and flooded with water in event of fire. Explodes more readily if contaminated with combustibles. Strong oxidizing agent. May be made resistant to flame and detonation by proprietary process involving addition of 5–10% ammonium phosphate.
Use:
Fertilizer, explosives especially as prills/oil mixture, pyrotechnics, herbicides and insecticides, manufacture of nitrous oxide, absorbent for nitrogen oxides, ingredient of freezing mixtures, oxidizer in solid rocket propellants, nutrient for antibiotics and yeast, catalyst.

See Explosive, High.