Page 126 - Encyclopedia of Chemical Compounds 3 Vols

AMMONIUM NITRATE

Interesting Facts

• Glauber named the force of the explosion
compound he discovered was so great that it could
in 1659 nitrum flammans, be felt more than 400
Latin for ‘‘flaming nitre.’’ kilometers (250 miles) away
He chose the name in Louisiana. Officials
because of the compound’s estimate the death toll
tendency to explode when at 581 people, with more
exposed to heat. than 5,000 more injured.
• An ammonium nitrate • Two American men,
explosion in Texas City, Timothy McVeigh and
Texas, on April 16, 1947, Terry Nichols, used a
was responsible for the truckload of ammonium
worst industrial accident nitrate and other materials
in U.S. history. While being to blow up the Alfred P.
loaded into two ships at Murrah Federal Building in
the Texas City harbor, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma,
more than 7.5 million on April 19, 1995. The event
kilograms (17 million was one of the worst
pounds) of the ammonium terrorist incidents ever
nitrate was exposed to on American soil.
flames and exploded. The

producing an explosion. One common type of explosive is
made of ammonium nitrate mixed with fuel oil and called
ANFO (Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil). When the mixture
is heated, ammonium nitrate breaks down to release oxy-
gen, which causes the rapid combustion (explosion) of the
fuel oil.

Some other uses of ammonium nitrate include the following:
• In fireworks, where it provides the oxygen needed to
ignite other chemicals;

• In the manufacture of nitrous oxide (N 2 O), commonly
known as laughing gas;

• In rocket engines, where it provides oxygen needed to
burn the rocket fuel;

CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS 75