What triggers ammonium nitrate to explode?
Over time, the compound absorbs moisture, which can make the beads stick together into a huge rock, says Sella. When such a large quantity of compacted ammonium nitrate is exposed to intense heat — if, say, an accidental fire breaks out — it can trigger an explosion.
Will ammonium nitrate explode on its own?
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. It’s relatively difficult for a fire to trigger an ammonium nitrate explosion.
Why is ammonium nitrate dangerous?
Under normal handling conditions, ammonium nitrate is not harmful. However, inhalation of high concentrations of ammonium nitrate dust can cause respiratory tract irritation. Symptoms may include: coughing, sore throat, shortness of breath, or even suffocation. Ammonium nitrate forms a mild acid when mixed with water.
How powerful is a ammonium nitrate?
While not used as an industrial explosive on its own, ammonium nitrate is unstable; at high temperatures it decomposes into nitrogen, oxygen and water vapor. Again, it is a relatively low-energy explosion, but dangerous when large amounts are involved. It is reckoned to be about 40% as powerful as TNT.
At what temperature does ammonium nitrate explode?
400 degrees Fahrenheit
What happens when ammonium nitrate explodes?
When ammonium nitrate explodes, it can release toxic gases including nitrogen oxides and ammonia gas. The orange plume is caused by the nitrogen dioxide, which is often associated with air pollution. “If there isn’t much wind, it could become a danger to the people nearby,” says Prof Sella.
How explosive is ammonium nitrate compared to TNT?
“Ammonium nitrate is a relatively safe material if stored correctly but can become dangerous and unstable if stored incorrectly. “It has an explosion efficiency of approximately 40% that of TNT i.e. 1 kg of ammonium nitrate will give an equivalent energy release to 0.4 kg of TNT.
How many tons of TNT is an atomic bomb?
20,000 tons
How much does a grenade cost the military?
The M67 is typically known as a “baseball” grenade, because it is shaped like a ball that can be easily thrown. According to the FY2021 US Army Justification, the average cost of a single M67 grenade is around 45 US dollars.
How heavy is a frag grenade?
2 pounds