Ammonium nitrate: what is it and the chemical formula of ammonium nitrate, decomposition and properties

Chemicals help farmers and small home gardeners protect plants from disease and improve soil fertility. In spring, crops especially need such a macronutrient as nitrogen, which is found in many industrial fertilizers. Ammonium nitrate has another name - ammonium nitrate, a tool that helps increase yields even in adverse climatic conditions.

Ammonium nitrate is it?

Ammonium nitrate is a pure nitrogen fertilizer, in which the content of the main substance ranges from 26 to 34%.According to this indicator, ammonium nitrate is second only to urea. Manufacturers produce two types of chemical - ammonium nitrate marked "A" is intended for industrial use, marked "B" - for use in agriculture.

Ammonium Nitrate has another name - ammonium nitrate, and was first obtained in 1659 by the chemist Johann Glauber. Ammonium nitrate is used as a component of explosives and as a nitrogen fertilizer in agriculture. Its chemical formula is NH₄NO₃

Domestic farmers and gardeners use nitrogen fertilizer to increase plant yields and increase crop resistance to adverse weather conditions. It is used both as a single agent and in combination with other chemical agents. In dry form, top dressing is used in autumn and spring, and liquid solutions are suitable for root top dressing in early summer.

Physical properties

Scientists, as a result of studying the substance, described its physical properties, which must be taken into account when applying fertilizers on their plots. The chemical is commercially available in the form of a white or yellowish crystalline powder.

Solubility

The solubility of ammonium nitrate in water depends on the temperature of the liquid; so, at 0 degrees, this figure is 119 g / 100 ml, and at 100 degrees - 1024 g / 100 ml. Ammonium nitrate is also soluble in methanol, ethanol and pyridine. When the substance decomposes, intense heat absorption occurs, which greatly slows down the dissolution process.

Composition

The composition of a chemical directly depends on its origin. In the first case, ammonium nitrate is obtained by neutralizing a s alt of nitric acid. In the second case, the substance is produced by the method of chemical reactions of the starting substances.

The main useful component of fertilizer is nitrogen, it contains about 35%. In addition to it, ammonium nitrate contains 60% oxygen and 5% hydrogen. Despite the fact that nitrogen is necessary for plants to build up green mass and full fruiting, excessive fertilization worsens the frost resistance of perennial crops and slows down the autumn growth of trees and shrubs.

The high nitrogen content of the fertilizer helps to improve the photosynthesis process, increase yields and extend the shelf life of fruits.

Getting Methods

The principle of production of ammonium nitrate is based on the neutralization of nitric acid with gaseous ammonia. After that, the resulting solution is evaporated to the form of crystals or powder. To extend the shelf life of the fertilizer, it is coated with special compounds that prevent caking.

Ammonium nitrate production technology consists of the following steps:

1. The process of neutralizing nitric acid with ammonia.
2. Evaporation of the resulting solution.
3. S alt crystallization process.
4. Drying and cooling the substance.

Because the process is accompanied by intense heat, it is quite dangerous to carry out the procedure outside the factory.

Another method of obtaining fertilizer is called nitrophosphate and was first used in Norway. In this case, calcium phosphate is first dissolved in nitric acid, after which the resulting mixture is cooled to a temperature of 0 degrees. The resulting calcium nitrate is mixed with ammonia, as a result of a chemical reaction, ammonium nitrate is formed.

Chemical properties

Under the influence of high temperatures, ammonium nitrate decomposes. This process starts the release of a large amount of heat and oxidizer.Also, ammonium nitrate reacts with alkaline substances, during which ammonia is released. Care must be taken in chemical processes, as the substance is explosive.

Instructions for use as a fertilizer

Due to the high content of nitrogen in the fertilizer, it is recommended to use it in the following cases:

• for feeding ornamental plants and flowers (contributes to intensive growth of green mass);
• for saturation of any type of soil with nitrogen;
• for feeding cultivated plants at any stage of vegetation.

Since s altpeter is explosive, all work with fertilizer must be carried out with extreme caution and follow the manufacturer's recommendations.

When to soil

Ammonium nitrate is applied both in spring and autumn.In the event that the soil in the area is light, it is recommended to do this before sowing cultivated plants. With heavy and clay soil, fertilizer will need to be used both in spring and in autumn. The main part of ammonium nitrate is added to the soil during the spring months and early summer to stimulate the development and growth of the green mass of crops.

As for dosages, on poor soils, the consumption rate is 35 grams of fertilizer per square meter. If the soil is constantly fed with organic matter and mineral fertilizers, then 25 grams will be enough for the same area.

Application rates for different plants

The allowable amount of fertilizer depends on the variety of crop that is grown on the site. It is allowed to use mineral dressing not only for adult plants, but also for seedlings, in order to strengthen it and increase stability after planting in open ground. Pour a tablespoon of ammonium nitrate under each bush.

Consumption rates for adult crops are as follows:

1. Vegetable plants. Fertilizer is used twice during the growing season of crops - before the appearance of buds and at the time of fruit set. Each time they take from 5 to 10 grams per square meter of the garden.
2. Fruit and berry trees. The first time top dressing is applied in a dry form in the spring, when leaves begin to appear on the crops, adhering to a dosage of 15 to 20 grams of fertilizer per garden square. The second and third time the liquid form of the chemical is used to feed the plants. 30 grams of powder or granules are diluted in 10 liters of pure water and this solution is used for watering under the root.
3. Root crops. To apply fertilizer between rows of plantings, shallow grooves are made and ammonium nitrate is scattered in them at the rate of 7 grams of top dressing per square meter. Fertilization is carried out once a season, three weeks after plant germination.
4. Flower crops. Feed the plants with a liquid form of fertilizer. 10 granules of ammonium nitrate are dissolved in 1 liter of water and root dressing is carried out.

Feeding winter crops

Plants planted before winter are fertilized with ammonium nitrate in autumn. 300 kg of fertilizer in the form of powder or granules are consumed per hectare of field.

Use against weeds

In order to destroy weeds in the field, you will have to make a concentrated solution. To do this, dissolve 3 kg of ammonium nitrate in a bucket of water. Weeds are sprayed with this liquid. The solution destroys all types of weeds, but it does not harm the soil and human he alth, since after a while the ammonia evaporates.

Safety precautions

When working with a chemical, safety rules are observed so as not to harm he alth. Be sure to use clothing that covers all parts of the body, gloves and a respirator so that ammonium nitrate vapor does not enter the respiratory tract.

Advantages and disadvantages

Like any fertilizer, ammonium nitrate has its advantages and disadvantages, which must be studied before applying.

The advantages of the chemical include:

• low cost compared to other mineral supplements;
• no need for deep embedding;
• double action - both short-term and prolonged;

From the cons of the drug are:

• risk of spontaneous combustion and explosion if misused;
• loss of performance when stored in a humid environment.

Storage rules

Keep the chemical in a dry and dark utility room.

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