Ammonium perchlorate

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Ammonium perchlorate
Ammonium perchlorate.png
Ammonium-perchlorate-unit-cell-3D-balls-B.png
Ammonium perchlorate 100g.jpg
Names
IUPAC name
Ammonium perchlorate
Other names
AP
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.029.305 OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
EC Number
  • 232-235-1
PubChem CID
RTECS number
  • SC7520000
UNII
UN number 1442
  • InChI=1S/ClHO4.H3N/c2-1(3,4)5;/h(H,2,3,4,5);1H3 Yes check.svgY
    Key: HHEFNVCDPLQQTP-UHFFFAOYSA-N Yes check.svgY
  • InChI=1/ClHO4.H3N/c2-1(3,4)5;/h(H,2,3,4,5);1H3
    Key: HHEFNVCDPLQQTP-UHFFFAOYAD
  • [O-]Cl(=O)(=O)=O.[NH4+]
Properties
NH4ClO4
Molar mass 117.49 g/mol
AppearanceWhite crystalline [1]
Density 1.95 g/cm3
Melting point Exothermic decomposition before melting at >200 °C [2]
11.56 g/100 mL (0 °C)
20.85 g/100 mL (20 °C)
57.01 g/100 mL (100 °C)
Solubility Soluble in methanol
Partially soluble in acetone, ethanol
Insoluble in diethyl ether [3]
Structure
Orthorhombic (<240 °C)
Cubic (>240 °C)
Thermochemistry
-295.77 kJ/mol [4]
Hazards
GHS labelling:
GHS-pictogram-explos.svg GHS-pictogram-rondflam.svg GHS-pictogram-exclam.svg GHS-pictogram-silhouette.svg
Danger
H201, H271, H319, H373
P210, P220, P221, P230, P240, P250, P260, P264, P280, P283, P305+P351+P338, P306+P360, P314, P337+P313, P370+P378, P370+P380, P371+P380+P375, P372, P373, P401, P501
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
NFPA 704.svgHealth 1: Exposure would cause irritation but only minor residual injury. E.g. turpentineFlammability 0: Will not burn. E.g. waterInstability 4: Readily capable of detonation or explosive decomposition at normal temperatures and pressures. E.g. nitroglycerinSpecial hazard OX: Oxidizer. E.g. potassium perchlorate
1
0
4
OX
240 °C (464 °F; 513 K)
Safety data sheet (SDS) External MSDS [5]
Related compounds
Other anions
Ammonium chlorate
Ammonium chloride
Other cations
Potassium perchlorate
Sodium perchlorate
Lithium perchlorate
Related compounds
Perchloric acid
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Yes check.svgY  verify  (what is  Yes check.svgYX mark.svgN ?)

Ammonium perchlorate ("AP") is an inorganic compound with the formula NH4 ClO4 . It is a colorless or white solid that is soluble in water. It is a powerful oxidizer. Combined with a fuel, it can be used as a rocket propellant called ammonium perchlorate composite propellant. Its instability has involved it in a number of accidents, such as the PEPCON disaster.

Production

Ammonium perchlorate (AP) is produced by reaction between ammonia and perchloric acid. This process is the main outlet for the industrial production of perchloric acid. The salt also can be produced by salt metathesis reaction of ammonium salts with sodium perchlorate. This process exploits the relatively low solubility of NH4ClO4, which is about 10% of that for sodium perchlorate. [6]

AP crystallises as colorless rhombohedra.

Decomposition

Like most ammonium salts, ammonium perchlorate decomposes before melting. Mild heating results in production of hydrogen chloride, nitrogen, oxygen, and water.

4 NH4ClO4 → 4 HCl + 2 N2 + 5 O2 + 6 H2O

The combustion of AP is quite complex and is widely studied. AP crystals decompose before melting, even though a thin liquid layer has been observed on crystal surfaces during high-pressure combustion processes. [7] Strong heating may lead to explosions. Complete reactions leave no residue. Pure crystals cannot sustain a flame below the pressure of 2 MPa.

AP is a Class 4 oxidizer (can undergo an explosive reaction) for particle sizes over 15 micrometres [8] and is classified as an explosive for particle sizes less than 15 micrometres. [9] [10]

Applications

The primary use of ammonium perchlorate is in making solid fuel propellants. [11] When AP is mixed with a fuel (like a powdered aluminium and/or with an elastomeric binder), it can generate self-sustained combustion at pressures far below atmospheric pressure. It is an important oxidizer with a decades-long history of use in solid rocket propellantsspace launch (including the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster), military, amateur, and hobby high-power rockets, as well as in some fireworks.

Some "breakable" epoxy adhesives contain suspensions of AP. Upon heating to 300 °C, the AP degrades the organic adhesive, breaking the cemented joint.

Toxicity

Perchlorate itself confers little acute toxicity. For example, sodium perchlorate has an LD50 of 2–4 g/kg and is eliminated rapidly after ingestion. [6] However, chronic exposure to perchlorates, even in low concentrations, has been shown to cause various thyroid problems, as it is taken up in place of iodine.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perchloric acid</span> Chemical compound

Perchloric acid is a mineral acid with the formula HClO4. Usually found as an aqueous solution, this colorless compound is a stronger acid than sulfuric acid, nitric acid and hydrochloric acid. It is a powerful oxidizer when hot, but aqueous solutions up to approximately 70% by weight at room temperature are generally safe, only showing strong acid features and no oxidizing properties. Perchloric acid is useful for preparing perchlorate salts, especially ammonium perchlorate, an important rocket fuel component. Perchloric acid is dangerously corrosive and readily forms potentially explosive mixtures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ammonium nitrate</span> Chemical compound with formula NH4NO3

Ammonium nitrate is a chemical compound with the formula NH4NO3. It is a white crystalline salt consisting of ions of ammonium and nitrate. It is highly soluble in water and hygroscopic as a solid, although it does not form hydrates. It is predominantly used in agriculture as a high-nitrogen fertilizer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oxidizing agent</span> Chemical compound used to oxidize another substance in a chemical reaction

An oxidizing agent is a substance in a redox chemical reaction that gains or "accepts"/"receives" an electron from a reducing agent. In other words, an oxidizer is any substance that oxidizes another substance. The oxidation state, which describes the degree of loss of electrons, of the oxidizer decreases while that of the reductant increases; this is expressed by saying that oxidizers "undergo reduction" and "are reduced" while reducers "undergo oxidation" and "are oxidized". Common oxidizing agents are oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, and the halogens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Potassium chlorate</span> Chemical compound

Potassium chlorate is a compound containing potassium, chlorine and oxygen, with the molecular formula KClO3. In its pure form, it is a white crystalline substance. After sodium chlorate, it is the second most common chlorate in industrial use. It is a strong oxidizing agent and its most important application is in safety matches. In other applications it is mostly obsolete and has been replaced by safer alternatives in recent decades. It has been used

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Potassium perchlorate</span> Chemical compound

Potassium perchlorate is the inorganic salt with the chemical formula KClO4. Like other perchlorates, this salt is a strong oxidizer although it usually reacts very slowly with organic substances. This, usually obtained as a colorless, crystalline solid, is a common oxidizer used in fireworks, ammunition percussion caps, explosive primers, and is used variously in propellants, flash compositions, stars, and sparklers. It has been used as a solid rocket propellant, although in that application it has mostly been replaced by the higher performance ammonium perchlorate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dichlorine heptoxide</span> Chemical compound

Dichlorine heptoxide is the chemical compound with the formula Cl2O7. This chlorine oxide is the anhydride of perchloric acid. It is produced by the careful distillation of perchloric acid in the presence of the dehydrating agent phosphorus pentoxide:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sodium perchlorate</span> Chemical compound

Sodium perchlorate is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula NaClO4. It consists of sodium cations Na+ and perchlorate anions ClO−4. It is a white crystalline, hygroscopic solid that is highly soluble in water and ethanol. It is usually encountered as sodium perchlorate monohydrate NaClO4·H2O. The compound is noteworthy as the most water-soluble of the common perchlorate salts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ammonium chlorate</span> Chemical compound

Ammonium chlorate is an inorganic compound with the formula NH4ClO3.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lithium perchlorate</span> Chemical compound

Lithium perchlorate is the inorganic compound with the formula LiClO4. This white or colourless crystalline salt is noteworthy for its high solubility in many solvents. It exists both in anhydrous form and as a trihydrate.

A pyrotechnic composition is a substance or mixture of substances designed to produce an effect by heat, light, sound, gas/smoke or a combination of these, as a result of non-detonative self-sustaining exothermic chemical reactions. Pyrotechnic substances do not rely on oxygen from external sources to sustain the reaction.

Ammonium perchlorate composite propellant (APCP) is a solid-propellant rocket fuel. It differs from many traditional solid rocket propellants such as black powder or zinc-sulfur, not only in chemical composition and overall performance but also by being cast into shape, as opposed to powder pressing as with black powder. This provides manufacturing regularity and repeatability, which are necessary requirements for use in the aerospace industry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nitronium perchlorate</span> Chemical compound

Nitronium perchlorate, NO2ClO4, also known as nitryl perchlorate and nitroxyl perchlorate, is an inorganic chemical, the salt of the perchlorate anion and the nitronium cation. It forms colorless monoclinic crystals. It is hygroscopic, and is a strong oxidizing and nitrating agent. It may become hypergolic in contact with organic materials.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rocket propellant</span> Chemical or mixture used as fuel for a rocket engine

Rocket propellant is the reaction mass of a rocket. This reaction mass is ejected at the highest achievable velocity from a rocket engine to produce thrust. The energy required can either come from the propellants themselves, as with a chemical rocket, or from an external source, as with ion engines.

Barium perchlorate is a powerful oxidizing agent, with the formula Ba(ClO4)2. It is used in the pyrotechnic industry.

Perchloratoborate is an anion of the form [B(ClO4)4]. It can form partly stable solid salts with heavy alkali metals. They are more stable than nitratoborate salts. K[B(ClO4)4] decomposes at 35 °C, Rb[B(ClO4)4] is stable to 50 °C, and Cs[B(ClO4)4] can exist up to 80 °C.

Zirconium perchlorate is a molecular substance containing zirconium and perchlorate groups with formula Zr(ClO4)4. Zr(ClO4)4 is a volatile crystalline product. It can be formed by reacting zirconium tetrachloride with dry perchloric acid at liquid nitrogen temperatures. Zr(ClO4)4 sublimes slowly in a vacuum at 70°C showing that the molecule is covalently bound rather than being ionic. The reaction also forms some zirconyl perchlorate (or zirconium oxyperchlorate) ZrO(ClO4)2 as even apparently pure perchloric acid is in equilibrium with dichlorine heptoxide, hydronium ions and perchlorate ions. This side product can be minimised by adding more dichlorine heptoxide or doing the reaction as cold as possible.

Hydronium perchlorate is an inorganic chemical compound with the chemical formula [H3O]ClO4. It is an unusual salt due to it being a solid and stable hydronium salt. It consists of hydronium cations [H3O]+ and perchlorate anions ClO−4.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nickel(II) perchlorate</span> Compound of nickel

Nickel(II) perchlorate is a inorganic compound with the chemical formula of Ni(ClO4)2, and it is a strong oxidizing agent. Its colours are different depending on water. For example, the hydrate forms cyan crystals, the pentahydrate forms green crystals, but the hexahydrate (Ni(ClO4)2·6H2O) forms blue crystals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lead(II) perchlorate</span> Chemical compound

Lead(II) perchlorate is a chemical compound with the formula Pb(ClO4)2·xH2O, where is x is 0,1, or 3. It is an extremely hygroscopic white solid that is very soluble in water.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nitrosyl perchlorate</span> Chemical compound

Nitrosyl perchlorate is the inorganic compound with the formula NO(ClO4). A hygroscopic white solid, it is the salt of the nitrosonium cation with the perchlorate anion. It is an oxidant and strong electrophile, but has fallen out of use with the availability of the closely related salt nitrosonium tetrafluoroborate NO(BF4).

References

https://www.europapress.es/economia/noticia-comunicado-perclorato-amonio-web-ammoniumperchlorateorg-20200304141258.html

  1. MSDS. sigmaaldrich.com.
  2. Liu, L.; Li, F.; Tan, L.; Ming, L.; Yi, Y. (2004), "Effects of Nanometer Ni, Cu, Al and NiCu Powders on the Thermal Decomposition of Ammonium Perchlorate", Propellants, Explosives, Pyrotechnics , 29: 34–38, doi:10.1002/prep.200400026
  3. John Rumble (18 June 2018). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (99th ed.). CRC Press. pp. 4–41. ISBN   978-1138561632.
  4. Chase, M. W. (11 February 1998). "NIST-JANAF Themochemical Tables, Fourth Edition". pp. 1–1951.
  5. Ammonium perchlorate MSDS. Sigma-Aldrich
  6. 1 2 Helmut Vogt, Jan Balej, John E. Bennett, Peter Wintzer, Saeed Akbar Sheikh, Patrizio Gallone "Chlorine Oxides and Chlorine Oxygen Acids" in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry 2002, Wiley-VCH. doi : 10.1002/14356007.a06_483
  7. Boggs, T. L. (1970). "Deflagration Rate, Surface Structure and Subsurface Profile of Self-Deflagrating Single Crystals of Ammonium Perchlorate". AIAA Journal. 8 (5): 867–873. Bibcode:1970AIAAJ...8..867B. doi:10.2514/3.5780.
  8. NFPA 400: Hazardous Materials Code, 2010
  9. NFPA 495: Explosive Materials Code, 2010
  10. "Development of an Enhanced Hazard Classification System for Oxidizers Research Project, Technical Report", Safety Engineering Laboratories, Inc., The Fire Protection Research Foundation, 13 April 2006
  11. "Perchlorate: Overview of Issues, Status, and Remedial Actions" Archived 15 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine , ITRC, September 2005