What happens when you mix diesel and ammonium nitrate?

The ammonium and nitrate molecules break down, and a large amount of oxygen gas is suddenly formed. The gas released from the decomposing fertilizer is what drives the explosion. The rapid release of oxygen, along with the energy from the detonation wave, ignites the fuel.

What is ammonium nitrate used for?

ammonium nitrate, (NH4NO3), a salt of ammonia and nitric acid, used widely in fertilizers and explosives. The commercial grade contains about 33.5 percent nitrogen, all of which is in forms utilizable by plants; it is the most common nitrogenous component of artificial fertilizers.

What type of blasting agent is ammonium nitrate/fuel oil?

ANFO under most conditions is detonator–insensitive, so it is classified as a blasting agent and not a high explosive. Ammonium nitrate is widely used as a fertilizer in the agricultural industry.

Why is ANFO used in mining?

ANFO is suitable for use where the blastholes are dry and will remain dry until firing. ANFO can be used as a column charge in mining or quarrying and for general blasting work. ANFO loads easily and completely fills the blasthole, delivering maximum energy.

Why do farmers spread ammonium nitrate on their fields?

Farmers use fertilisers like ammonium nitrate to help crops to grow and increase yields. This ammonia is converted to nitrates by nitrifying bacteria. In some conditions denitrifying bacteria in the soil break down nitrates and return nitrogen back to the air. This is usually in waterlogged soil.

Why does ammonium nitrate exploded on its own?

Ammonium nitrate prills provide a much more concentrated supply of oxygen than the air around us. At high enough temperatures, however, ammonium nitrate can violently decompose on its own. This process creates gases including nitrogen oxides and water vapour. It is this rapid release of gases that causes an explosion.

What happens when you mix water and ammonium nitrate?

Originally Answered: What is ammonium nitrate and water reaction? Ammonium nitrate dissolves in water and dissociates in ammonium cation and nitrate anion. These then combine with the free hydroxyl anions and hydrogen cations of water to form ammonium hydroxide and nitric acid.

How much fuel oil does it take to disperse ammonium nitrate?

For this purpose, about i gal of fuel oil for each 100 lb of ammonium nitrate will equal approximately 6 percent by weight of oil. The oil can be added after each bag or two of prills, and it will disperse relatively rapidly and uniformly.

Is ammonium nitrate fertilizer used in Afghanistan?

On 10 November 2009 International troops and Afghan police seized 250 tons of ammonium nitrate fertilizer in the southern city of Kandahar. Ammonium nitrate fertilizer, is used to make about 95 percent of the bombs in Afghnaistan.

How much ammonium nitrate was used in IRA car bombs?

The ANFO car bomb was adopted by the Provisional IRA in 1972 and, by 1973, the Troubles were consuming 47,000 lb of ammonium nitrate for the majority of bombs.

What are the dangers of Unmixed ammonium nitrate?

Unmixed ammonium nitrate can decompose explosively and has been responsible for several industrial disasters, including the 1922 Oppau explosion in Germany, the 1947 Texas City disaster in Texas City, Texas, the 2004 Ryongchon disaster in North Korea, and the 2013 West Fertilizer Company explosion in West, Texas.