Ammonium Nitrate : Cause of Beirut Blast ( a deadly explosion)

Ammonium nitrate, (NH₄NO₃), a salt of ammonia and nitric acid, used widely in fertilizers and explosives.

The commercial grade contains about 33.5 percent nitrogen, all of which is in forms utilizable by plants, it is the most common nitrogenous component of artificial fertilizers.

Ammonium nitrate also is employed to modify the detonation rate of other explosives, such as nitroglycerin in the so-called ammonia dynamites, or as an oxidizing agent in the ammonals, which are mixtures of ammonium nitrate and powdered aluminum.

Ammonium nitrate is highly explosive when it comes into contact with fire , and when it explodes, ammonium nitrate can release toxic gases including nitrogen oxides and ammonia gas.

There are strict rules in how to store it safely- including requiring the storage site to be thoroughly fire proofed, and not have any drains, pipes or other channels in which ammonium nitrate could build up and create an additional explosion hazard.

But when it comes in contact with some contaminated items such as fuel oil it could cause an explosion.

In Beirut : a massive explosion rocked on Tuesday (4 Aug 2020) , flattening much of the city's port, damaging buildings across the capital and sending a giant mushroom cloud into the sky.

More than 70 people are killed and 3,000 injured, with the numbers increasing.

President Michel Aoun said 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate had been stored unsafely in a warehouse for six years.

The ammonium nitrate had reportedly been unloaded from a ship impounded at the port in 2013 , and then stored in a warehouse there.

The explosion comes at a sensitive time for Lebanon, with an economic crisis reigniting old divisions as the country struggles with the coronavirus crisis.

The blast was felt 240km (150miles) away on the island of cyprus, in the Eastern Mediterranean , with people there saying they thought it was an earthquake.

The whole city was black, people were covered in blood.

The future of the port itself is in doubt due to the destruction caused and with many building and homes reduced to an uninhabitable mess of glass and debris , many residents have been left homeless.

Comments

Cervical cap : What Is It? How do you put it on?

What is a cervical cap? A cervical cup is a small cup made up of silicone that fits over the cervix (the part of the uterus that opens into the vagina ). It covers the cervix so sperm can't get in and fertilize an egg. It is a barrier method to prevent pregnancy. The cervical cap is reusable dome shaped cap made from non-allergic silicone rubber that is inserted into the vagina. The cervical cap is similar to the diaphragm . The only difference is it's slightly smaller and fits more tightly over the cervix. How does the cervical cap work? The cervical cap keeps sperm from entering the uterus and Fallopian tubes. If sperm cannot enter the Fallopian tubes to fertilize the egg , pregnancy can't occur. The cervical cap must be used with spermicide for maximum effectiveness. it stops the sperm from moving , and is second line of defense against pregnancy. How to use a cervical cap? You must have a prescription to get a cervical cap. This is because the cervical cap needs to be f...

TENNIS ELBOW(LATERAL EPICONDYLITIS)

TENNIS ELBOW : Tennis elbow is is an inflammation of the tendons that join the forearm muscles on the outside of the elbow. The forearm muscles and tendons becomes damaged from overuse . It happens when you work your elbow too much by repeating certain movements. Playing tennis or other racquet sports can cause this condition , however several other sports and activities can also put you on risk. There is video of exercise attached ANATOMY OF THE ELBOW JOINT: Elbow joint is a joint made up of three bones: Humerus(upper arm bone) Two bones in forearm(radius and ulna) There are bony bumps at the bottom of the humerus called epicondyles. The bony bump on the outside (lateral side) of the elbow is called lateral epicondyle. Muscles , ligaments and tendons hold the elbow joint together. The forearm muscles extend yo...

DID FABIFLU IS THE MEDICINE OF COVID-19 ?

Fabiflu in COVID-19 As we know the vaccine is still a long distance away and no sign of the coronavirus infections slowing down in the country , homegrown pharmaceutical companies have been given permission to launch generic versions of Remdesivir and Favipiravir , anti-viral drugs that have shown promise in treating Covid-19 patients. Glenmark pharmaceuticles has launched favipiravir under the brand name FabiFlu for treatment of mild to moderate cases of Covid-19 , cipla and hetero labs have received approvals from the Drug Controller General of India to launch generic versions of Remedesivir under the names Cipremi and Covifor respectively. While medical experts have cautioned against seeing these potential drugs as a "magic bullet" against the deadly virus , they can be helpful in reducing the viral load as India continues to post new record highs in infection on a daily basis. Remedesivir and Favipiravir are two of the 130 under experimentation drugs worldwide to treat c...

Health and Medicine

Search This Blog