Ammonium nitrate is an ammonium salt with the chemical formula NH4NO3. It is an oxidizing agent and very soluble in water. It absorbs a lot of heat when dissolved.It is decomposed explosively by violent impact or heat, and decomposed by alkali, mainly used as fertilizer, industrial & military explosives.

Since Ammonium Nitrate contains half of the nitrogen (N) in the nitrate form and half in the ammonium form, ammonium nitrate is a widely used fertiliser. The nitrate form is easily transported to the roots with the help of soil moisture and is thus instantly available for plant absorption.

• Properties

Chemical Formula : NH4NO3

Appearance :  White crystalline powder

Molar Mass/ Molecular Weight : 80.043 grams per mole

Density : 1.725 grams per cubic centimetre

Melting Point : 442.8K (169.6°C)

Boiling Point : Decomposes at 483K (210°C)

• Uses of Ammonium Nitrate

NH4NO3 is a key component of many fertilizers since it is quite rich in nitrogen (34%).

Another advantage of this compound is that it doesn’t lose its nitrogen to the atmosphere, as is the case with urea.

When mixed with fuel oil, it forms an explosive known as ANFO, which is one of the most popular industrial explosives.

The dissolution of this compound in water is quite endothermic, making it an ideal choice of material in instant cold packs.

It is also used in the mining and construction industry as a component of explosives.