Texas Fertilizer Plant Explosion ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter morrobay
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Explosion Plant
AI Thread Summary
A fire at a Texas fertilizer plant, where ammonia is produced and stored, led to a massive explosion. The chemical reactions involved are primarily linked to ammonia production via the Haber process, where nitrogen and hydrogen combine to form ammonia. Three potential causes for the explosion were discussed: the explosion of a hydrogen tank, the possibility of heat from the fire driving the ammonia reaction backward to produce hydrogen, and the combustion of ammonia itself. However, the most likely cause identified was the explosion of ammonium nitrate, a common occurrence in such incidents. It is suggested that the fire was initiated by an ammonia leak, which, combined with ammonium nitrate, heated a tank of liquid ammonia, resulting in the explosion. Witnesses reported a strong ammonia smell before the explosion, indicating a fuel-air type explosion involving ammonia and oxygen, rather than significant buildup of ammonium nitrate decomposition products.
morrobay
Gold Member
Messages
1,116
Reaction score
1,691
It started as a fire at a Texas fertilizer plant where ammonia is produced and stored. Then
a massive explosion. What happened chemically ? Three possibilities : Ammonia produced
by the Haber process. N2 + 3H2 --> 2NH3 -92 kJ/m
1. a hydrogen tank exploded.
2. With heat from the initial fire could above reaction been driven to left producing H2 ?
3. Combustion/explosian of ammonia: 4NH3 + 3O2 --> 2N2 + 6H2O -1267kJ/m
 
Chemistry news on Phys.org
I think it was a fire started after an ammonia leak, supported by the ammonium nitrate, which heated a large tank of liquid ammonia to the point of explosion. It was reported that there was a strong smell of ammonia just before the event. Typical fuel-air explosion boosted by the decomposition products of ammonium nitrate. From the videos I've seen just before the explosion, it is unlikely that the ammonium nitrate decomposition products (mostly NOx compounds) ever built up significant concentrations before they burned off. Probably just a fuel-air type explosion... ammonia plus oxygen.
 

Thread 'Solubility of MgSO47H2O in water'

It seems like a simple enough question: what is the solubility of epsom salt in water at 20°C? A graph or table showing how it varies with temperature would be a bonus. But upon searching the internet I have been unable to determine this with confidence. Wikipedia gives the value of 113g/100ml. But other sources disagree and I can't find a definitive source for the information. I even asked chatgpt but it couldn't be sure either. I thought, naively, that this would be easy to look up without...
View full post »

Thread 'Why does having 8 valence electrons make an element inert?'

I was introduced to the Octet Rule recently and make me wonder, why does 8 valence electrons or a full p orbital always make an element inert? What is so special with a full p orbital? Like take Calcium for an example, its outer orbital is filled but its only the s orbital thats filled so its still reactive not so much as the Alkaline metals but still pretty reactive. Can someone explain it to me? Thanks!!
View full post »

Similar threads

Is the NERVA Program's Decline a Setback for Nuclear Space Propulsion?
Replies
2
Views
3K
Is the Future of Space Exploration Dependent on Nuclear Thermal Rockets?
Replies
1
Views
5K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top