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Ammonium perchlorate



Ammonium perchlorate
IUPAC name Ammonium perchlorate
Other names AP
Identifiers
CAS number 7790-98-9
SMILES O=Cl(=O)(=O)O-.[NH4+]
Properties
Molecular formula ClH4NO4
Molar mass 117.48876 g/mol
Appearance white granular
Density 1.95 g/cm³
Melting point

Exothermic decomposition before melting, 595 - 750 K[2]

Solubility in water 18.5 g/100 g H2O (15 °C)[1]
Structure
Crystal structure Orthorhombic (< 513 K)
Cubic (> 513 K)
Hazards
MSDS External MSDS
EU classification Explosive (E), Harmful (Xn)
NFPA 704
0
1
4
OX
R-phrases R9 R20 R21 R22
S-phrases S14 S16 S27 S36 S37
Related Compounds
Other anions ammonium chlorate
ammonium chloride
Other cations potassium perchlorate
sodium perchlorate
lithium perchlorate
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for
materials in their standard state
(at 25 °C, 100 kPa)

Infobox disclaimer and references

Ammonium perchlorate (AP) is a chemical compound with the formula NH4ClO4. It is the salt of ammonia and perchloric acid. Like other perchlorates, it is a powerful oxidizer.

It is produced by reaction between ammonia and perchloric acid, or by double decomposition between an ammonium salt and sodium perchlorate.

It crystallises in colorless rhombohedra with a relative density of 1.95. Like most ammonium salts, it decomposes before melting. Mild heating results in chlorine, nitrogen, oxygen and water, while strong heating may lead to explosions.

The combustion of such compound is quite complex and is widely studied in literature. Ammonium perchlorate crystals decompose before melting, even though a thin liquid layer has been observed on crystal surface during high pressure combustion processes.[3]

The gaseous decomposition products are in general ammonia- and chlorine-based and can react together generating a thin premixed flame very close to the crystal surface. Pure crystals cannot sustain a flame below the pressure of 20 bar (2 MPa). Nevertheless, the material is considered hazardous if ground under 15 micrometres. When AP is mixed with a fuel (like a metal powder or mixed with a polymeric binder) it can generate self-sustained combustion also far under atmospheric pressure.

It is an important oxidizer used in solid rocket propellants known as Ammonium perchlorate composite propellants (APCP). Uses include the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters, as well as many other solid rockets including some fireworks, amateur and hobby high powered rockets, and larger rockets used for space launch and military purposes.

The PEPCON disaster happened at an ammonium perchlorate manufacturing plant. The resulting explosions measured 3.5 on the Richter scale some 600 miles (1000 km) away. Over 400 people were injured, but only 2 died in the monstrous blast.

References

  1. ^ Atherton Seidell. Solubilities of inorganic and organic compounds c. 2. D. Van Nostrand Co., 1919, p. 44.
  2. ^ Liu L., Li F., Tan L., Ming L., and Yi Y. Effects of Nanometer Ni, Cu, Al and NiCu Powders on the Thermal Decomposition of Ammonium Perchlorate. Propellant, Explosives, Pyrotechnics, 29, 2004, pp. 34-38
  3. ^ T. L. Boggs, Deflagration Rate, Surface Structure and Subsurface Profile of Self-Deflagrating Single Crystals of Ammonium Perchlorate. AIAA Journal, 8(5), 1970, pp. 867--873
 
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Ammonium_perchlorate". A list of authors is available in Wikipedia.
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