Ammonium nitrate is a double-edged compound that can be used as a fertilizer but also has dangerous explosive properties. It is used as a cheap fertilizer for farms but can inhibit the growth of amphibian larvae if runoff contaminates water sources. Ammonium nitrate is also used in mining explosives and is a promising rocket fuel oxidizer, but it has been used in acts of terrorism and caused industrial accidents, so many countries heavily regulate its sale and use.

1. By: Elise Fournier, Dhruva Govil, Raiven Owusu,
and Taylor Pelland
Double-Edged: Ammonium Nitrate
LB 171 007 2015
● Explosives
○ Ammonium Nitrate is a great oxidizer, meaning
that it can easily rip electrons away from other
compounds. When mixed with an organic
polymeric fuel, Ammonium Nitrate decomposes
and vaporizes. The energy is released in the form
of a potentially dangerous explosion (Figure 1)
■ Terrorism
● Ammonium Nitrate is banned in 10
different countries, and is restricted in six
others
■ Accidents in fertilizer plants
■ Mining
● Harmful to amphibian life
○ Exposure to ammonium nitrate inhibits the
development and growth of larval smooth newts
■ Exposed to fertilizer during the spring when
amphibians move through the covered fields
to breeding sites
■ Runoff from fields contaminates the water
source where larvae develops
○ Hazard of death decreases with increasing mass
and increases with increasing concentration of
ammonium nitrate (Figure 2)
● Fertilizer
○ Nitrogen in Ammonium Nitrate is in a form that
can be used by plants (NH4, NO3)
○ Ammonium Nitrate is a cheap type of fertilizer
so it is a popular choice for farmers
○ Nitrogen is found in chlorophyll so larger
amounts of ammonium nitrate make plants look
more green and allow plants to make food in
order to grow
● Cold Packs
○ There are two chambers within a cold pack. One
containing ammonium nitrate, and the other
containing water
○ Ammonium nitrate absorbs a lot of heat when it
dissolves in water
○ Reaction makes the cold pack as cold as 0
degrees Celsius
● Explosives
○ Ammonium Nitrate is a cheap chemical used for
mining explosives
○ It is also thought to be a promising oxidizer for
rocket fuels
■ There is a demand for propellants that don’t
include chlorine in attempt to prevent
environmental pollution
■ Ammonium Nitrate propellant produces eco-
friendly, smokeless products
"Ammonium Nitrate Security Program." U.S. Department of Homeland Security. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 5 Oct. 2015. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.
Dambreville, Christophe, Thierry Morvan, and Jean-Claude Germon. "N Sub(2)O Emission in Maize-crops Fertilized with Pig Slurry, Matured Pig Manure or Ammonium Nitrate in Brittany." ScienceDirect. Elsevier B.V., Jan. 2008. Web. 1 Dec.
2015.
Dechy, Nicolas, Thomas Bourdeaux, Nadine Ayrault, Marie-Astrid Kordek, and Jean-Christophe Le Coze. "First Lessons of the Toulouse Ammonium Nitrate Disaster, 21st September 2001, AZF Plant, France." ScienceDirect. Elsevier B.V., 26
July 2004. Web. 30 Nov. 2015.
"How Do Instant Hot and Cold Packs Work?" How Do Instant Hot and Cold Packs Work? Lansing State Journal, 15 Mar. 1995. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.
Omen, C., and S. R. Jain. "Ammonium Nitrate: A Promising Rocket Propellant Oxidizer." ScienceDirect. Elsevier B.V., 30 June 1999. Web. 30 Nov. 2015.
Smith, James L., Evan Rogers, and Ming Yu. "Ammonium Nitrate: Thermal Stability and Explosivity Modifiers." ScienceDirect. Elsevier B.V., 25 Feb. 2002. Web. 30 Nov. 2015.
Watt, PENELOPE J., and PHILIP JARVIS. "Survival Analysis in Palmate Newts Exposed to Ammonium Nitrate Agricultural Fertilizer." Ecotoxicology 6 (1997): 355-62. Ecotoxicology. Department of Biological Sciences and Department of
Medical Statistics, De Montfort University, Leicester LE7 9SU, UK, 22 Dec. 1996. Web. 1 Dec. 2015.
● Our opinion: Ammonium Nitrate should be heavily
regulated and only used when absolutely necessary
● Current Regulations (United States)
○ In the US, The Department of Homeland
Security regulated the sale and transfer of
ammonium nitrate
○ Each purchaser and seller is required to apply for
an Ammonium Nitrate Registered User Number
with the Department, and each applicant is
screened against the Terrorist Screening
Database
○ To obtain ammonium nitrate the individual must
have:
■ Valid AN Registered User Number
accompanied by a valid photo ID
OR
■ Authorized by a person possessing a valid AN
Registered User Number to act on their behalf
as an agent
References
● How is it formed?
○ Acid-Base Reaction
○ Nitric Acid reacts with Ammonium Salt to form
Ammonium Nitrate
● Ammonium Nitrate has properties that cause it to
be a potentially dangerous compound, therefore it
should be heavily regulated by the government
Pros
Introduction
Conclusion
Cons
Figure 2. Death Toll of Newts with Ammonium
Nitrogen Concentration
Figure 1. The Decomposition of Ammonium Nitrate at 169.7 ℃