Ammonium nitrate

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/ammonium-nitrate

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the chemical formula?NH4NO3
2. What is the nitrogen content?Approximately 33.5% by mass
3. What is ammonium nitrate and why is it called a super salt?It is a white powder made from ammonia and nitric acid. It helps plants grow and can make fireworks sparkle, so it’s a very useful salt.
4. Why does ammonium nitrate help plants grow so well?It has a high nitrogen content—about 33.5%—and gives plants both ammonium and nitrate ions. These forms are easy for roots to use, making crops bigger and healthier.

Ionic Salt: A compound formed from the electrostatic attraction between positively charged cations and negatively charged anions.
Hygroscopic: Readily absorbing moisture from the air.
Exothermic Decomposition: A chemical reaction that releases energy, usually in the form of heat.
Oxidizer: A substance that readily yields oxygen or other oxidizing agents to stimulate the combustion of another substance.