Ammonium Nitrate | 14 Nov 2025

Source: ET 

Why in News?  

A blast near Delhi’s Red Fort has put  “Ammonium Nitrate” in the spotlight, as investigators suspect the chemical may have been used in the explosion by a “white-collar” terror module linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed. 

What is Ammonium Nitrate? 

• About: Pure ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃) is a white, crystalline, water-soluble, nitrogen-rich compound made by reacting ammonia with nitric acid, and it melts at about 170°C. 
  • The substance is classified as an oxidising agent. It is one of the base ingredients used in the manufacture of commercial explosives. 
  • It is classified as a dual-use substance, meaning it has legitimate industrial uses but can also be weaponised. 
• Legitimate Uses of Ammonium Nitrate: In agriculture, it is widely used as a nitrogen fertilizer due to its high nutrient content. 
  • It is used for controlled blasting in quarries and excavation projects, and also forms a key component of various emulsions and gels used in mining-grade explosives. 
• Weaponization of Ammonium Nitrate: Pure ammonium nitrate is not explosive by itself and is classified as an oxidiser under United Nations classification of dangerous goods.  
  • It becomes volatile when combined with fuel oil, potassium chlorate, sulphur or other accelerants.  This mixture creates ANFO (Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil), a commonly used explosive. 
    • However, ANFO cannot detonate on its own, it requires a trigger such as a detonator, often initiated with primary explosives like RDX or TNT. 
    • ANFO is frequently used by terror groups to make Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). 
  • Ammonium Nitrate has been repeatedly exploited in major terror attacks in India, including the 2019 Pulwama attack and multiple Indian Mujahideen strikes between 2000 and 2011 in Mumbai and Delhi. 
• Regulation: All activities (manufacture, conversion, bagging, import, export, transport, possession, sale, and use) are governed under the Ammonium Nitrate Rules, 2012.  
  • Storage of large quantities in populated areas is prohibited under these rules. 
  • A separate Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO)-issued licence under the Ammonium Nitrate Rules, 2012 is required for carrying out any activity involving ammonium nitrate. 
  • Industrial licence under the Industrial Development and Regulation Act, 1951 is mandatory for manufacturing ammonium nitrate. 
  • Any mixture containing over 45% ammonium nitrate (including emulsions, suspensions, melts, or gels)  is legally classified as an explosive under the Explosives Act, 1884. 
    • However, this does not apply to fertilisers from which ammonium nitrate cannot be extracted by physical or chemical methods.