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Beirut Explosion: How Ammonium Nitrate Caused Deadly Blast In Lebanon by DMPaulSr: 8:59am On Aug 05, 2020 |
A large stockpile of ammonium nitrate is believed to have caused the explosion in the Port of Beirut. An explosion at a warehouse in the Port of Beirut, Lebanon, killed more than 70 people and left more than 4,000 people injured on Tuesday. In the aftermath of the explosion, videos uploaded to social media show plumes of red-brown smoke and the apocalyptic extent of the destruction, with buildings leveled for miles. According to a report by Al Jazeera, Lebanon Prime Minister Hassan Diab said the explosion was fueled by a stockpile of over 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate, confiscated and stored for approximately six years at the port. The explosive potential of ammonium nitrate is well understood and has been used in numerous terrorist attacks including the Oklahoma City bombing of 1995. So what is ammonium nitrate, why is it explosive and why do we use it? Ammonium nitrate is a chemical compound containing the element nitrogen (as well as hydrogen and oxygen) and is commonly used in agriculture as fertilizer. Plants rely on photosynthesis, converting sunlight to energy using chlorophyll. Nitrogen is an essential element for this process and ammonium nitrate is particularly good, compared with other fertilizers, at delivering plants nutrients. It's also an explosive compound and is used around the world in mining and construction operations requiring detonations. Under normal conditions, the chemical is highly stable. It can explode after exposure to contaminants or fuel oil and then heated, which sets off a cascade of reactions. When heated to above 170 degrees Fahrenheit, ammonium nitrate begins to undergo decomposition. But with rapid heating or detonation, a chemical reaction can occur that converts ammonium nitrate to nitrogen and oxygen gas and water vapor. The products of the reaction are harmless -- they're found in our atmosphere -- but the process releases huge amounts of energy. "The idea in making any sort of explosive is to go from a high energy compound to a low energy one," explains Ian Rae, a professor at the University of Melbourne. "The energy given out is what you get as explosive power." This also requires pressure to build up in a confined space, without being able to dissipate. Burning ammonium nitrate in an open field, for instance, isn't likely to result in an explosion, Rae said. Additionally, in the explosion, not all of the ammonium nitrate is used up and exploded. Some of it decomposes slowly creating toxic gases like nitrogen oxides. It's these gases that are responsible for the red-brown plume of smoke seen in the aftermath of the Beirut explosion, Rae said. After the fireball erupts in the video above, you can immediately see the shock wave expanding away from the blast. Moisture in the air is quickly condensed, forming a white sphere around the explosion zone. It's not clear what else may have been ignited or exploded in the blast -- or what was stored at the docks -- but Prime Minister Diab is expected to make this information known "soon," according to The Guardian. Because of ammonium nitrate's explosive potential, countries and unions impose strict regulations on how to store and process it. "It is generally kept under controlled conditions and modified volumes to minimize chances of explosion," says Brent Kaiser, a plant biologist at the University of Sydney. In Australia, the storage and use of ammonium nitrate is monitored to prevent these types of explosions occurring, Kaiser said. The accidental detonation of ammonium nitrate has resulted in a number of accidents in the last century. In 2015, explosions partly caused by the detonation of around 800 tons of ammonium nitrate rocked the Beijing port of Tianjin, killing 173 people. An explosion of ammonium nitrate was responsible for the worst industrial accident in US history in 1947. A ship in the harbor of Texas City, Texas, carrying approximately 2,300 tons of ammonium nitrate caught fire, supposedly via a discarded cigarette, causing a series of explosions that killed 581 people. Two explosions are said to have rocked the port. Though the causative agent of the larger, second explosion appears to be ammonium nitrate, the full scale of the devastation in Lebanon isn't yet completely understood and an investigation will be performed. "What happened today will not come to pass without accountability," Diab said. He has also announced that Wednesday will be a national day of mourning in the country and the port and surrounding region has been declared a disaster zone. "This is clearly a very significant explosion, and the reported number of deaths is likely to be far higher than currently identified," said David Caldicott, a senior clinical lecturer in medicine at the Australian National University. Watch How The Explosion Started https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBbsQdIIa0Y https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cnet.com/google-amp/news/beirut-explosion-how-ammonium-nitrate-caused-deadly-blast-in-lebanon/ 6 Likes 2 Shares
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Re: Beirut Explosion: How Ammonium Nitrate Caused Deadly Blast In Lebanon by DMPaulSr: 9:00am On Aug 05, 2020 |
Source https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cnet.com/google-amp/news/beirut-explosion-how-ammonium-nitrate-caused-deadly-blast-in-lebanon/ So far, more than 100 people have died and over 4000 injured. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJ1b62nZgAs 2 Likes 1 Share
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Re: Beirut Explosion: How Ammonium Nitrate Caused Deadly Blast In Lebanon by DMPaulSr: 9:28am On Aug 05, 2020 |
Lalasticlala Please move to FP. Many people think this is a terrorist attack. 1 Like |
Re: Beirut Explosion: How Ammonium Nitrate Caused Deadly Blast In Lebanon by Sonfethopia: 9:50am On Aug 05, 2020 |
May we and our families never encounter such. 76 Likes |
Re: Beirut Explosion: How Ammonium Nitrate Caused Deadly Blast In Lebanon by DMPaulSr: 10:24am On Aug 05, 2020 |
Sonfethopia: This world is something else... Person go de mind en business, next thing na death 17 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: Beirut Explosion: How Ammonium Nitrate Caused Deadly Blast In Lebanon by bukalis(m): 12:23pm On Aug 05, 2020 |
My condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the explosion, quick recovery to the injured. 73 Likes 4 Shares |
Re: Beirut Explosion: How Ammonium Nitrate Caused Deadly Blast In Lebanon by Georgekyrian(m): 12:47pm On Aug 05, 2020 |
Nice one OP |
Re: Beirut Explosion: How Ammonium Nitrate Caused Deadly Blast In Lebanon by Dpharisee: 1:18pm On Aug 05, 2020 |
Ok |
Re: Beirut Explosion: How Ammonium Nitrate Caused Deadly Blast In Lebanon by Slawormir: 1:18pm On Aug 05, 2020 |
Damnnnnn niggarrr Isoright I thought so... All these people way run commot for chemistry class for secondary school nor go fit understand explosive nature of ammonium nitrate DMPaulSr: That is why them talk am say for every day we wake we are faced with more than a hundred ways to die That is the truth humans don't want to hear....and they will always say you are a devil if you tell them Anyway...I won't blame them because humans hate what they don't understand 25 Likes 5 Shares |
Re: Beirut Explosion: How Ammonium Nitrate Caused Deadly Blast In Lebanon by Betirabbol(f): 1:18pm On Aug 05, 2020 |
May the almighty continue to protect us 3 Likes |
Re: Beirut Explosion: How Ammonium Nitrate Caused Deadly Blast In Lebanon by Nobody: 1:18pm On Aug 05, 2020 |
Call it ammonium nitrate or ISIS or whatever you like, one thing is certain in life and this is, something must kill a man. By the way, Year 2020 has officially become the 1001th way to die and coincidentally too, I found out this post is my 1001th post. Isn't life mysterious? 8 Likes 3 Shares |
Re: Beirut Explosion: How Ammonium Nitrate Caused Deadly Blast In Lebanon by paulolee(m): 1:18pm On Aug 05, 2020 |
bad |
Re: Beirut Explosion: How Ammonium Nitrate Caused Deadly Blast In Lebanon by Righteousness89(m): 1:18pm On Aug 05, 2020 |
Over 100 souls just Gone like that! In these Perilous times that have come upon the Earth, Something must Cause Something to Happen! All we need do is to Ensure that we Live Prepared so that in Case we are in a Place or location where Something will cause Something to Happen, we will be able to open our Eyes in Glory! That's what is Important Eternity Bekons on us All! Let's Prepare for it! Prayers for the Nation of Lebanon ... Prayers For the Various Families that have been thrown into Mourning! 26 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Beirut Explosion: How Ammonium Nitrate Caused Deadly Blast In Lebanon by Legacy001: 1:18pm On Aug 05, 2020 |
God have mercy |
Re: Beirut Explosion: How Ammonium Nitrate Caused Deadly Blast In Lebanon by Goahead(m): 1:19pm On Aug 05, 2020 |
2020 was never a year in the history of humanity! 6 Likes
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Re: Beirut Explosion: How Ammonium Nitrate Caused Deadly Blast In Lebanon by Nigerianleleyi0: 1:19pm On Aug 05, 2020 |
God help us.
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Re: Beirut Explosion: How Ammonium Nitrate Caused Deadly Blast In Lebanon by jericco1(m): 1:19pm On Aug 05, 2020 |
They didn't know before stockpiling it? Well now they've left over 5k persons either dead or injured damn |
Re: Beirut Explosion: How Ammonium Nitrate Caused Deadly Blast In Lebanon by Thelimitbreaker(m): 1:19pm On Aug 05, 2020 |
RIP to the departed souls... And to the injured, i wish you a quick and a speedy recovery.... |
Re: Beirut Explosion: How Ammonium Nitrate Caused Deadly Blast In Lebanon by goldtube(m): 1:19pm On Aug 05, 2020 |
Re: Beirut Explosion: How Ammonium Nitrate Caused Deadly Blast In Lebanon by Nobody: 1:20pm On Aug 05, 2020 |
May God heal the injured! |
Re: Beirut Explosion: How Ammonium Nitrate Caused Deadly Blast In Lebanon by konkonbilo(m): 1:20pm On Aug 05, 2020 |
Re: Beirut Explosion: How Ammonium Nitrate Caused Deadly Blast In Lebanon by bestman09(m): 1:20pm On Aug 05, 2020 |
Re: Beirut Explosion: How Ammonium Nitrate Caused Deadly Blast In Lebanon by TreasureTayo(m): 1:20pm On Aug 05, 2020 |
Chemicals are very powerful. Don't joke with them. If Ammonium Nitrate could this, damn, I wonder what ......... would do. Dont let me put up the name before one idiot starts looking for it for trial 2 Likes |
Re: Beirut Explosion: How Ammonium Nitrate Caused Deadly Blast In Lebanon by Tobimercy(f): 1:21pm On Aug 05, 2020 |
Re: Beirut Explosion: How Ammonium Nitrate Caused Deadly Blast In Lebanon by IMASTEX: 1:21pm On Aug 05, 2020 |
Wow |
Re: Beirut Explosion: How Ammonium Nitrate Caused Deadly Blast In Lebanon by ecolime(m): 1:22pm On Aug 05, 2020 |
Really sad Their economy is in ruins and at the edge of total collapse and being categorised as a failed state. They've defaulted on their international loan repayments since January and here we have Nigeria (a mono-economy) still borrowing millions and Billions of dollars from China like say tomorrow no dey. God loves this country called Nigeria. I really pray similar fate does not befall us. 7 Likes 2 Shares
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Re: Beirut Explosion: How Ammonium Nitrate Caused Deadly Blast In Lebanon by martineverest(m): 1:22pm On Aug 05, 2020 |
the water splash/displacement save them...if not ,it would have been more disastrous as the city would have been under heavy fire after the explosion. I really pity Lebanon |
Re: Beirut Explosion: How Ammonium Nitrate Caused Deadly Blast In Lebanon by Opperwezen(m): 1:22pm On Aug 05, 2020 |
No doubt it was caused by ammonium nitrate. Which was very likely exploited by terrorists! 4 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Beirut Explosion: How Ammonium Nitrate Caused Deadly Blast In Lebanon by Arturitoroman: 1:22pm On Aug 05, 2020 |
this is bad 1 Like |
Re: Beirut Explosion: How Ammonium Nitrate Caused Deadly Blast In Lebanon by Worldbest281: 1:22pm On Aug 05, 2020 |
hmmmmmmmm 2020....... 1 Like |
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