Scientific Explanation of the Mushroom-shaped Explosion of AMMONIUM NITRATE That Happened In Lebanon
 |
| Atomic nitrate |
Some time ago, the world was shocked by an explosion that was thought to have come from Ammonium Nitrate. There are things that are quite interesting to discuss, considering that the explosion effect caused is very unusual. Such as the appearance of several amateur videos showing how the explosion occurred and the effects and shape of the explosion.
The people who recorded the fire before the explosion occurred were also quite far from the scene, but not far enough from the effects of the shockwave it caused.
Ammonium Nitrate is a chemical compound with the formula NH4NO3, is a Nitrate salt which contains negative ions and Ammonium which contains positive ions (polyatomic). NH4 in the form of protonization of Ammonia NH3 which consists of Nitrogen and Hydrogen atoms, while Nitrate (NO3) which consists of Nitrogen and Oxygen atoms. This compound is included in synthetic chemical compounds which are produced by reacting ammonia and nitric acid when solidified will form white crystals that can be dissolved in water. Ammonium Nitrate is generally used as a raw material for making fertilizers and explosives.
This one compound will be more dangerous if stored for too long, will harden over time so that it will produce a solid petrified texture that is easily flammable when there is a spark.
Judging from the explosion that was caused in the tragedy in the port of Lebanon, the energy released was extraordinary, the surrounding air was compressed so that when the energy was released it produced a supersonic shock wave that propagated at a certain speed in all directions, so that within a few milliseconds the temperature of the surrounding air experienced a drastic increase which caused the emergence of lumps in the form of mushroom clouds that pointed upwards.
A PhD candidate from the University of New Mexico named Martin Pfeiffer said the explosion was clearly not nuclear, because it did not have 2 main characteristics; a nuclear explosion produces a blinding white flash accompanied by a heat wave that can cause fires throughout the area close to the explosion, exposure to the heat wave effects of the explosion can burn everyone’s skin.
According to Martin Pfeiffer the cloud that forms the fungus is also known as the Wilson Cloud, which will form, when moist air gets a compression process that will cause the water in it to condense, this is definitely not an explosion of nuclear origin.
As quoted from kompas.com, a document revealed that the explosion came from Ammonium Nitrate which weighed 2,750 metric tons which had been there since 2013, which was carried by a transport ship originating from Russia by the name of MV Rosus.
Ammonium itself is produced from a process called Haber from Nitrogen and Hydrogen to produce Ammonia, which is then carried out by an oxidation process known as Ostwald to produce Nitric acid. Nitric acid can also be obtained through the Odda process.
When under standard conditions, this one compound is stable, detonation or heating at a temperature of 75 degrees Celsius in a closed room can cause this compound to decompose or decompose into oxygen and nitrogen gas which is then followed by the release of water vapor and great energy. Ammonium decomposition produces gas with a red-brown color, and is toxic.
The appearance of brownish red smoke after the explosion was due to the detonation process which caused the decomposition of the Ammonium Nitrate compound.
Besides being able to cause an explosion , other dangers of Ammonium Nitrate ;
- If inhaled, Ammonium Nitrate can cause irritation and irritation of the respiratory tract, symptoms that arise in the form of shortness of breath, cough, and sore throat, if not treated immediately can cause cyanosis, dyspnea and several other diseases to the level of death.
If it has reached a lethal level, it causes methemoglobinemia with symptoms of headache, shortness of breath, blue skin, very fast heart rate, until the color of the blood turns brownish red.
- Substances that are produced when decomposition occurs are nitrogen oxides.
Long-term effects if exposed to Ammonium Nitrate continuously can cause excessive headaches, the body becomes weak, digestive tract disorders, to a lethal level, because the body will experience a lack of oxygen in the blood.
