Ammonium nitrate composition. Chemical reagents, chemical raw materials, laboratory glassware and technical fabrics for enterprises in various industries.

Saltpeter are minerals that contain salts nitric acid. Hence the name: in Latin sal nitrum - nitrogen salt. This name was formed in the workshops of medieval alchemists, and today it has entered the lexicon of chemists, agronomists, gardeners, pyrotechnicians. Saltpeter is one of the most accessible, containing nitrogen, so it is actively used in agriculture.

Saltpeters are a whole group of compounds. It includes salts of alkali, alkaline earth metals, as well as ammonium. There are the following types of saltpeter:

• Ammonium nitrate. This is a crystalline substance that does not have a pronounced color. In ammonium nitrate, the percentage of nitrogen content is the highest, which makes this nitrate a valuable fertilizer. Ammonium nitrate crystals absorb moisture from the air very strongly, so it should be stored in dry places. Ammonium nitrate is explosive.
• Barium nitrate differs from ammonium in the white color of the crystals. She colors the flames green color. Barium nitrate is not suitable for fertilizer, but is used in pyrotechnic tricks.
• Potassium nitrate. This variety of saltpeter is also called Indian, at the location of the first large deposits. It is widely used in pyrotechnics. Potassium nitrate is valuable because it contains potassium - another necessary for plants element.
• Sodium, or Chilean, saltpeter has long been considered a waste impurity to potash, as it was not suitable for the production of gunpowder. Today it is considered a valuable fertilizer and is also widely used in many chemical industries.

There are also several other types of saltpeter, but they are of lesser importance; in the practice of horticulture, saltpeter is most often understood as ammonium nitrate.

Until recently, the sale of ammonium nitrate to gardeners and other private individuals was prohibited, and nitrate could only be bought by large agricultural enterprises. This is due to its high explosiveness. Today, saltpeter is part of many complex fertilizers. You can buy it in its pure form.

By origin, saltpeter is made by chemical transformation of sodium or potassium nitrate.

Another way to obtain is the treatment of nitric acid with ammonia. The Russian chemical industry produces huge volumes of ammonium nitrate every year. As a result of the reaction, white lumps are formed ranging in size from 1 to 4 mm. This is ammonium nitrate.

There are several varieties of ammonium nitrate:

• Ammonium (or ammonium) saltpeter grade "B". It is used for indoor flowers and for feeding seedlings. There are two sub-varieties. Such saltpeter can be stored at home.
• Ammonium nitrate. This variety was the first type of saltpeter mastered chemical industry. It proved to be very effective thanks to high content it has nitrogen in it. It entered the wide practice of agronomy and displaced urea (carbamide) from the position of the main nitrogenous fertilizer.
• Norwegian, or lime saltpeter. Contains small impurities of potassium, magnesium, sodium. It can be produced in the usual form or in granules. Granulated Norwegian saltpeter absorbs less water, is better transported, and is less explosive. In addition, it does not increase the acidity of the soil when used, which further enhances its attractiveness as a fertilizer.
• Porous saltpeter. Such saltpeter, due to the special shape of the surface of the grains, is more explosive, because of this, it requires careful handling. Porous saltpeter is not used as a fertilizer, but is used to make explosives. Usually it is not sold in private hands.

There are several schemes for introducing ammonium nitrate into the soil. They differ in time, amount of fertilizer, method of applying fertilizer to the soil. When to feed plants with saltpeter:

1. The initial application of saltpeter is carried out from early spring to mid-summer. In it time runs active formation of shoots and foliage, so the nitrogen consumption of the plant is very high. After mid-summer, it is no longer desirable to apply saltpeter, since it will accelerate the growth of shoots, slowing down the ripening of fruits.
2. For plants that are planted with seedlings (tomatoes), saltpeter is added during planting. Two grams of fertilizer is applied to each well. To make a saltpeter solution, 30-40 grams of fertilizer is taken for every 10 liters of water. Ammonium nitrate dissolves perfectly, so it is most often used as a solution.
3. When planting root crops (

   
   

   Saltpeter cannot be mixed with almost anything: peat, dolomite, chalk, organic impurities - all this should be used together with fertilizer. Saltpeter is reactive, and the reaction will release enough heat to cause spontaneous combustion. Saltpeter is converted in the plant body into nitrates, which are dangerous to human health.

   In such cultures, nitrates accumulate especially a lot. If saltpeter fell under such crops through negligence, it is necessary to pour plenty of water on the soil in order to neutralize the effect.

   
   

   Using saltpeter as a fertilizer is not too difficult, but requires a number of safety measures:

   • In order to avoid the accumulation of nitrates by plants, the norms and terms of introducing saltpeter into the soil should be strictly observed.
   • It should be borne in mind that saltpeter slightly raises the acidity of the soil. This is due to the chemical properties of saltpeter, as well as the mechanisms of chemical transformation of saltpeter in the soil. Therefore, saltpeter-based fertilizers are best used on soil with a neutral or slightly alkaline chemical environment. However, among all ammonium nitrate, it acidifies the soil most weakly.
   • After making saltpeter, plants should be provided with abundant watering. This is done in order to compensate for the loss of moisture by the roots of the plant. It is also better to apply saltpeter in the form of an aqueous solution of fertilizer.
   • When making saltpeter, try not to get the solution on the shoots and leaves of plants. Saltpeter strongly dries plants and can cause green mass burns. It is better to use a watering can with a narrow jet to apply the fertilizer solution.

   
   

   One of the most difficult storage properties of saltpeter is its hygroscopicity. Saltpeter absorbs moisture from the air and at the same time liquefies, losing its positive properties. To avoid this, water-absorbing substances are added to the bags of saltpeter. At the same time, it should be taken into account that saltpeter reacts with many substances, which makes their use as moisture absorbers impossible.

   The best material is crushed shell rock. It absorbs atmospheric moisture well, leaving the saltpeter dry. At the same time, shell rock is an inorganic low-active mineral. It does not react with saltpeter and is harmless to plants, not dissolving in the soil. It is necessary to take into account the tendency of saltpeter to absorb moisture during storage. Saltpeter should not be stored under open sky or awnings, open areas. Warehouses where ammonium nitrate is stored must be dry.

   Second important feature saltpeter is flammable.

   In the warehouse where saltpeter is stored, it is forbidden to smoke and use an open flame. Electrical wiring must be of high quality insulation, electrical equipment must not spark. It is unacceptable to use oil, kerosene and other similar lamps, stoves and other devices with an open flame in warehouses.

   Close to the place of storage of saltpeter should not be stored materials that can react with saltpeter. These are dry grass, hay, peat, sawdust, coal, combustible substances. The fertilizer packaging must be stored on a fire-resistant base, e.g. concrete slab. For saltpeter, heating above 30 degrees Celsius is dangerous, so the warehouse must be protected from the sun. To heat sources should be at least one and a half meters.

   The use of saltpeter is the most cheap way supply plants with nitrogen. This type of fertilizer is inexpensive, easy to use and completely safe if certain rules are followed. However, it is worth remembering that saltpeter is prone to fire and deteriorates upon contact with water. Knowing the simple rules will allow you to get a big harvest.

   More information can be found in the video:

The chemical substance ammonium nitrate, the formula of which is NH4NO3, has been known to chemists for a long time, back in 1659 it was discovered by I. R. Glauber. Another name for this compound is common in the literature - Externally, ammonium nitrate is a crystal white color with high hygroscopicity. compound is 235°C, and at 169.6°C, ammonium nitrate begins to melt. There are several crystalline modifications that quite significantly affect the chemical, physical properties and the scope of its application.

For example, these differences lie in the fact that different modifications of crystals have different kind gratings. There are five such modifications in total. The 1st modification is characterized by a cubic shape; the 2nd and 5th modifications are tetragonal; the 3rd and 4th modifications are rhombic. In this case, as a result of transitions of the compound from one modification to another, a gradual but steady increase in the volume of the unit cell is detected. This property is responsible for the difference in chemical properties. So, for example, modification IV is characterized by a substance density of 1.725 g / cm3, the melting point is already 139.4 ° C.

The solubility of ammonium nitrate is as follows: in one hundred grams of water at a temperature of 0 ° C, 119 grams of the substance dissolves, at a temperature of 25 ° C, already 212 grams are dissolved, and at 50 ° C - 346 grams of ammonium nitrate. In addition, ammonium nitrate can be dissolved in pyridine, methanol and ethanol. A very important characteristic of the connection is that under the action of an impact or when the temperature is reached environment above 270°C, ammonium nitrate decomposes, causing an explosive effect.

Using indicators, you can determine the acidic environment that ammonium nitrate contains, hydrolysis with its participation is which can be written as: NH4NO3 + H2O = NH4OH + HNO3. Ammonium nitrate reacts with alkaline solutions. As a result of such reactions, ammonia is formed, and the reaction process itself acts as a qualitative reaction to ammonium nitrate.

As a rule, the substance is obtained by carrying out 60% HNO3. NH3 is used as a neutralizing agent in the gaseous state. In the process, heat is released, which is directed to the evaporation of the ammonium nitrate solution and obtaining a substance in the form of granules.

The most common use of ammonium nitrate is in agriculture, as a valuable nitrogen fertilizer. The compound is also actively used in the production of explosives, and as a reagent - as a solvent for zirconium in fuel rods, during operations for the regeneration of nuclear waste. Physiochemical properties cause a constant increase in demand for the substance, so its production is growing steadily and today reaches 20 million tons per year, when the substance is recalculated for the share of nitrogen.

Ammonium nitrate can be obtained in the laboratory under the strictest precautions and safety rules. To do this, in an ice bath, mixing of highly diluted and ammonia(aqueous ammonia solution). It is best to carry out such a reaction remotely, for example, using manipulators, and being at a sufficiently safe distance from the location of the mixed solution. Carrying out the reaction consists in the constant mixing of the acid in the ammonia solution, while periodically checking the indicator that the state of the neutral reaction has been reached. In the same way, control over the course of the reaction is also ensured. If the acidic environment is exceeded, an alkaline component is added to the solution, and vice versa.

Which is widely used in the cultivation of various garden crops. It is produced in the form of small granules in the form of a sphere, white or pink in color.

Characteristics of the drug

Simultaneous introduction of ammonium nitrate with sawdust, straw or other "combustible" substances is not allowed. In the process of interaction, they can catch fire.

Application features

Like all nitrogen fertilizers, ammonium nitrate is used in spring and summer, when horticultural crops actively grow and need nitrogen. The first application to the garden can be done even before planting, scattering the granules over the area and raking them into the soil. For 1 sq. m. of land will require from 20 to 50 g of the drug, depending on the composition of the soil. This will be the main feed.

In the future, ammonium nitrate fertilizer is used in the garden as an additional feeding of vegetables:

1. When planting seedlings of tomatoes, peppers and melons - add 1 tbsp. l. saltpeter into each well and water well.
2. When planting potatoes - also add to the wells.
3. During summer dressings plants, when they bloom and form ovaries - scatter fertilizer over the area at the rate of 5 g per 1 sq. m.
4. For - a single top dressing by introducing the drug into the aisle (or furrow) at 5 g per 1 sq. m. It should be done 3 weeks after germination.
5. For watering plants during the growing season - prepare a solution of 30 g of the drug and a bucket of water. Pour under the root, avoiding contact with the leaves. Liquid feeding of potatoes is best done during the first hilling.

The last top dressing should be done 15-20 days before harvest.

Ammonium nitrate solution for root dressing - video

Ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3, other names are ammonium nitrate, ammonium nitrate, ammonium salt of nitric acid). The main active ingredient is nitrogen. It is contained in the composition of the fertilizer from 26% (low grades) to 34.4% (high grades). The second macroelement of classic ammonium nitrate is sulfur, which in this agrochemical contains from 3 to 14%.

Ammonium nitrate, along with - an ideal top dressing for spring use. At the start of their development, plants do not hesitate to consume nitrogen in huge doses, and in tandem with sulfur, this element is especially good and quickly absorbed. This property explains its presence in the composition of the agrochemical, because sulfur itself is not the most nutrient for plant organisms.

Physiologically, it is an acid fertilizer, which, at the same time, does not acidify the soil with a normal pH reaction. But if ammonium nitrate is used on acidic soils, then calcium carbonate must be added in parallel, in a proportion of 0.75 g per 1 g of saltpeter.

Ammonium nitrate is needed, first of all, for the active saturation of plants with nitrogen. This is its main task, which is helped to solve the macro- and microelements additionally included in the composition.

Issue price

Ammonium nitrate is a very economical agrochemical. Its price is about 20-25 rubles per kg. If we take into account that the application rate of this mineral top dressing is, on average, about 10-20 g / m2, then for one hundred square meters (100 square meters), you need to spend only 1 kg of fertilizer.

Even considering that the use of ammonium nitrate is not very rational without other mineral fertilizers, it is very beneficial to fertilize it.

You can buy ammonium nitrate both in bulk and in packaged form. Very often in stores selling goods for gardeners, you can find its varieties with various additives. They have a narrower application, but at the same time, they solve specific problems better than the main fertilizer with a wide range use.

Types of ammonium nitrate

Almost always, this fertilizer is produced with the use of additives of various elements. The presence of such a large assortment is explained by the wide geography of the use of ammonium nitrate, and an attempt to adapt to the needs Agriculture various climatic zones.

• Ammonia simple. This view was developed very first. The main idea underlying it is to provide agricultural crops with powerful nitrogen nutrition. The use of ammonium nitrate in agro-industrial complexes different countries confirmed it many times high efficiency as an optimal starter fertilizer for most cultivated middle lane plants. This type of saltpeter can be balanced to replace another popular mineral supplement- carbamide (urea).
• Ammonia, grade B. It is divided into varieties, the first and second. Great for use and storage at home. Sold in stores for gardeners, and has a convenient packaging, from 1 kg. Why would she need it at home? For flowers that are sick after the winter spent on the windowsill, for the primary feeding of seedlings, which, under conditions of short daylight hours, nitrogen is vital.
• Ammonia-potassium (K2NO3). People call it "Indian saltpeter". This species is especially effective for early spring feeding fruit trees. It is also ideal for pre-sowing application, and subsequent top dressing for tomatoes, because potassium improves the taste of the fruit.
• Lime-ammonia (Norwegian nitrate). There is a simple and granular. Contains calcium. Its production is regulated by TU 2181-001-77381580-2006. The composition of this agrochemical, in addition to the main one, includes additional substances - potassium, calcium and magnesium.
  Lime-ammonium nitrate is characterized by high strength of granules, does not cake during storage. It is alarming that it is treated with fuel oil, and this fraction lives in the soil for a very long time, causing quite significant harm to it.

Lime-ammonia grade is used to fertilize almost all crops. Does not increase soil acidity, is well absorbed. The main advantage is safety - lime-ammonium nitrate does not explode, and therefore it can be transported by any means of transport.

• Magnesium nitrate-aqueous (magnesium nitrate). The formula of this substance looks like this: Mg (NO3) 2 - H2O. Used for vegetables and legumes as additional source magnesium.
• calcium. Available in both dry and liquid form, which does not need to be diluted. It is called "Ammoniazed Calcium Nitrate Solution".
• Porous ammonium nitrate (TU 2143-635-00209023-99). But this species has never been a fertilizer, and is a great danger. It was originally used only to create explosives.

Application against plant diseases

Why is ammonium nitrate so widespread in industrial agriculture? He not only nourishes the soil with essential macronutrients, but also protects plants from a host of diseases strengthening their immunity.

This property is especially relevant in case of intensive exploitation of the land or cultivation of crops from the same class on the same plot every year (non-compliance with crop rotation). For example, for potatoes on small summer cottages so many gardeners allocate the same piece of land every year. And then they wonder why the tubers still in the soil begin to rot. This problem is familiar to many - you dig in an outwardly healthy bush, and the potatoes are half rotten and smell bad.

Long-term permanent cultivation of this crop in one place leads to the accumulation of pathogenic fungi in the upper layers of the soil. huge quantities. The harvest is declining. To improve the soil, it is treated with various disinfectants (the most accessible solution is potassium permanganate), and ammonium nitrate is added under spring plowing, which helps strengthen the plant's immunity from the very first leaves. Physiologically healthy cultures deprive the fungi of their "home", the body rejects foreign microspores.

Application rates

The amount of fertilizer used during sowing application directly depends on the quality of the soil. If it is necessary to feed an already cultivated piece of land, then it is enough to use about 20-30 g / m. sq. If we feed depleted and low-nutrient lands, then the consumption rate increases to 35-50 g/m. sq.

Ammonium nitrate can be used as top dressing when planting seedlings. It strengthens young plants, nourishes them with essential macronutrients, and protects against various diseases. This fat is used when transplanting peppers, melons, and also for tomatoes, at the rate of 1 tbsp. a spoon without a slide under 1 bush.

For subsequent feeding of various cultivated plants The following consumption rates are recommended:

• Vegetables - 5-10 g / m. sq. It is applied twice during the growing season, in June, before flowering, and in July, after fruit set.
• Root crops - 5–7 g / m2. It is recommended to make shallow grooves between the rows, and pour ammonium nitrate granules there, deepening them into the ground by 2–3 cm. They are fed once, 3 weeks after germination.
• Fruit trees - 15-20 g / sq.m. In dry form, ammonium nitrate is used once for top dressing, at the beginning of the season, when leaves appear, and the solution is fed two to three times during the summer, under the root. This method helps to quickly bring nutrients to the roots of the plant, so it is preferable. The solution is prepared in such a proportion - 25-30 gr. must be diluted in 10 liters of water.

Dissolve ammonium nitrate, unlike many mineral fertilizers, will not be difficult, and the diffusion process begins already at 0 °C.

Are there nitrates in ammonium nitrate?

Yes, it is a nitrate fertilizer. Among a wide range of inhabitants, there is an opinion that nitrates are very harmful, and they appear in agricultural products when mineral fertilizers are used for its cultivation.

And that's right. But, not 100%. As always, lack of awareness breeds mass delusion. The fact is that vegetables and fruits can be oversaturated with nitrates even in the garden. organic fertilizers, for example, the usual manure and compost. They also contain nitrogen, and if they are used excessively, the harm will be noticeable, plant products will receive a powerful filling of nitrates.

Therefore, when applying all types of dressings, both natural and mineral, it is necessary to observe the recommended application rates. And in order for nitrates not to accumulate in fruits, root crops and berries, it is necessary to stop using any top dressing two weeks before harvest.

Production, formula

To make ammonium nitrate, ammonia and concentrated nitric acid are used. The formula looks like this:

NH3+HNO3→NH4NO3+Q

An isothermal reaction proceeds with a large amount of heat released. Excess water is evaporated, and the process of obtaining the substance ends with its drying.

At the production stage, ammonium nitrate is enriched with various elements - calcium, potassium, magnesium, to obtain different varieties.

In principle, the process of obtaining this substance is quite simple, so much so that you can even make this fertilizer at home. But this is completely impractical, since it is much cheaper to buy it, the price is low.

Storage

Since the main element of ammonium nitrate is nitrogen, if stored improperly, it can evaporate, significantly weakening the nutritional properties of this agrochemical.

When it changes temperature regime the fertilizer recrystallizes, forming sparingly soluble granules. Therefore, during storage, it is necessary to protect it from sudden temperature fluctuations.

The ammonium salt of nitric acid is dangerous. She can cause great harm if the storage conditions recommended in the instructions for use are not observed. The fact is that this fertilizer is explosive. If heated above 32.3 °C, it may explode. Therefore, in the summer, it must be stored under sheds, or in cool, well-ventilated rooms, and the temperature of the fraction should be monitored.

Video: "explosive" properties of the AC - making a smoke bomb

Ammonium nitrate is a very popular fertilizer among gardeners and gardeners. It contains a large amount of nitrogen, which is so necessary for normal development. vegetable crops and plants. Externally, the fertilizer resembles white salt, sometimes with a slight pinkish tint. The use of ammonium nitrate in the garden is allowed on any type of soil. But it should be borne in mind that using it on acidic soil, you must also take care of the introduction of calcium compounds.

This is the only fertilizer that is not afraid of frost. Its active substance begins to act immediately after being applied to the soil. That's why experienced gardeners use this top dressing in the spring.

Application of ammonium nitrate

Fertilizer can be applied in several ways. Since ammonium nitrate is produced in granules, it can simply be poured into the ground or previously diluted in water.

Watering with diluted fertilizer should be as accurate as possible so that the liquid does not get on the aerial part of the plant. For 1 square meter about 30 grams of the substance is enough, but if the soil is depleted, then about 50 grams will have to be used.