ammonium nitrate

American  

noun

Chemistry.

1. a white, crystalline, water-soluble powder, NH 4 NO 3 , usually produced by reacting nitric acid with vaporous ammonia: used chiefly in explosives, fertilizers, freezing mixtures, and in the manufacture of nitrous oxide.

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ammonium nitrate British  

noun

1. a colourless highly soluble crystalline solid used mainly as a fertilizer and in explosives and pyrotechnics. Formula: NH 4 NO 3

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ammonium nitrate Scientific  

1. A colorless crystalline salt used in fertilizers, explosives, and solid rocket propellants. Chemical formula: NH ₄ NO ₃ .

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Etymology

Origin of ammonium nitrate

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ammonium nitrate

To preserve its own supplies, Russia has suspended exports of ammonium nitrate, another nitrogen source for fertilizer.

From Salon ● Apr. 8, 2026

Davis said six packages of ammonium nitrate were shipped from Park in Seattle to Bartkus.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2025

Ivorian authorities meanwhile say that ammonium nitrate deliveries are commonplace and that more than 40,000 tonnes of the compound were unloaded at the same port in 2024 without incident.

From BBC ● Jan. 7, 2025

Takata used the volatile chemical ammonium nitrate to create a small explosion to quickly fill the air bags in a crash.

From Seattle Times ● May 29, 2024

But scientists in the Department of Agriculture had a better idea: Spread the ammonium nitrate on farmland as fertilizer.

From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan