On August 4, 2020, a catastrophic explosion devastated the port of Beirut, Lebanon. The disaster was caused by the detonation of approximately 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that had been improperly stored in a port warehouse for six years. The sequence of events began with a fire in a warehouse adjacent to the one containing the ammonium nitrate. The fire spread, leading to a series of initial explosions, and then the massive detonation of the ammonium nitrate stockpile at 6:08 PM local time.

AMMONIUM NITRATE – FERTILIZER OR EXPLOSIVE? | LET’S DISCUSS Ammonium nitrate is commonly used as a fertilizer in agriculture, yet it is often labeled as dangerous. Why is that so? 🤔 In this class discussion, we will explore: • What ammonium nitrate is • Its everyday uses in farming and industry • Why it can become dangerous under certain conditions • Real-life incidents and the science behind them • How safety and proper handling reduce risks This discussion is meant to build scientific underst