Sage-Tips

How much ammonium nitrate was in the Beirut explosion?

Beirut Ammonium Nitrate Blast: Analysis, Review, and Recommendations. A massive chemical detonation occurred on August 4, 2020 in the Port of Beirut, Lebanon. An uncontrolled fire in an adjacent warehouse ignited ~2,750 tons of Ammonium Nitrate (AN), producing one of the most devastating blasts in recent history.

How many tonnes of ammonium nitrate are in Beirut?

2,750 tonnes
On August 4, 2020, nearly 2,750 tonnes of improperly stored ammonium nitrate exploded in the seaport in Beirut, killing more than 200 people, injuring more than 6,000, and displacing thousands from their homes.

Is ammonium nitrate used in ammunition?

Ammonium nitrate has been used as an ingredient for conventional ammunition since the beginning of the 20th century. It is mixed with high explosive substances and used to provide additional oxygen during detonation.

What made the ammonium nitrate 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.

What does it take to make ammonium nitrate explode?

Ammonium nitrate would only explode on its own if its temperature was rapidly raised to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Compared to most combustible materials, ammonium nitrate itself is not exceptionally explosive. But the compound can contribute to explosions because it belongs to a chemical class known as oxidizers.

How much damage can 1 kg of TNT do?

Under controlled conditions one kilogram of TNT can destroy (or even obliterate) a small vehicle. The approximate radiant heat energy released during 3-phase, 600 V, 100 kA arcing fault in a 0.5 m × 0.5 m × 0.5 m (20 in × 20 in × 20 in) compartment within a 1-second period.

Is ammonium nitrate explosive in nature?

This compound is not found in its pure form in the common fertilizers that are commercially available. And, even in its pure form, ammonium nitrate by itself is not explosive. “The ammonium nitrate is like the engine behind the explosion, but the engine needs fuel,” Goodpaster told Life’s Little Mysteries.

How many people died in the ammonium nitrate explosion?

Aftermath of the explosion, with the destroyed Type Ammonium nitrate explosion Cause Under investigation Deaths 218 Non-fatal injuries 7,000+

Is it possible to make a bomb with fertilizer?

Experts say that it is actually quite difficult to make a bomb using fertilizer, because of the nature of the chemistry of the explosion. Ammonium nitrate is the fertilizer compound that can be used in explosives, said John Goodpaster, who researches explosives at Indiana at University-Purdue University Indianapolis.

What caused the Beirut explosion 2020?

On 4 August 2020, a large amount of ammonium nitrate stored at the Port of Beirut in the capital city of Lebanon exploded, causing at least 218 deaths, 7,000 injuries, and US$ 15 billion in property damage, and leaving an estimated 300,000 people homeless.