Ammonium nitrate: Good or bad guy?

Abstract

Ammonium nitrate (NA) is an inorganic salt that constitutes products used in common practices, such as application in fertilizers, odor control, production of explosive agents and production of propellants for rockets. Its physico-chemical properties demonstrate that it is a highly stable salt, which raises the question about its involvement in numerous explosive accidents recorded worldwide, the most recent being in August 2020 in the city Beirut - Lebanon. Thus, this review article gathers important information and necessary knowledge about this chemical agent, in order to avoid or minimize accidents that may involve NA. Therefore, information was addressed from the economic importance and main applications of NA to the risks and safety measures recommended for the operations of its transportation, storage and use.