ammonium perchlorate

{{Chembox

| Watchedfields = changed

| verifiedrevid = 476997590

| Name = Ammonium perchlorate

| ImageFile = Ammonium perchlorate.png

| ImageSize = 150px

| ImageName = Ammonium perchlorate

| ImageFile1 = Ammonium-perchlorate-unit-cell-3D-balls-B.png

| ImageName1 = Unit cell of the crystal structure

| ImageFile2 = Ammonium perchlorate 100g.jpg

| IUPACName = Ammonium perchlorate

| OtherNames = AP

| Section1 = {{Chembox Identifiers

| ChemSpiderID_Ref = {{chemspidercite|correct|chemspider}}

| ChemSpiderID = 23041

| InChI = 1/ClHO4.H3N/c2-1(3,4)5;/h(H,2,3,4,5);1H3

| SMILES = [O-]Cl(=O)(=O)=O.[NH4+]

| InChIKey = HHEFNVCDPLQQTP-UHFFFAOYAD

| StdInChI_Ref = {{stdinchicite|correct|chemspider}}

| StdInChI = 1S/ClHO4.H3N/c2-1(3,4)5;/h(H,2,3,4,5);1H3

| StdInChIKey_Ref = {{stdinchicite|correct|chemspider}}

| StdInChIKey = HHEFNVCDPLQQTP-UHFFFAOYSA-N

| CASNo = 7790-98-9

| CASNo_Ref = {{cascite|correct|CAS}}

| EINECS = 232-235-1

| RTECS = SC7520000

| PubChem = 24639

| UNNumber = 1442

| UNII = Z3DQ8VD57X

}}

| Section2 = {{Chembox Properties

| Formula = NH₄ClO₄

| MolarMass = 117.49 g/mol

| Appearance = White crystalline[https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en/product/sial/208507 MSDS]. sigmaaldrich.com.

| Density = 1.95 g/cm³

| Solubility = 11.56 g/100 mL (0 °C)
20.85 g/100 mL (20 °C)
57.01 g/100 mL (100 °C)

| SolubleOther = Soluble in methanol
Partially soluble in acetone, ethanol
Insoluble in diethyl ether{{cite book |author1=John Rumble |title=CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics |date=18 June 2018 |publisher=CRC Press |isbn=978-1138561632 |pages=4–41|edition=99th |language=English}}

| MeltingPt = Exothermic decomposition before melting at >200 °C{{citation |author1=Liu, L. |author2=Li, F. |author3=Tan, L. |author4=Ming, L. |author5=Yi, Y. | title = Effects of Nanometer Ni, Cu, Al and NiCu Powders on the Thermal Decomposition of Ammonium Perchlorate | journal = Propellants, Explosives, Pyrotechnics | volume = 29 | year = 2004 | pages = 34–38 | doi = 10.1002/prep.200400026}}

| BoilingPt =

| pKa =

| pKb =

| Viscosity =

}}

| Section3 = {{Chembox Structure

| MolShape =

| Coordination =

| CrystalStruct = Orthorhombic (<240 °C)
Cubic (>240 °C)

| Dipole =

}}

| Section4 = {{Chembox Thermochemistry

| DeltaGf =

| DeltaHc =

| DeltaHf = −295.77 kJ/mol{{cite web | url=https://webbook.nist.gov/cgi/cbook.cgi?ID=C7790989&Mask=2 | title=NIST-JANAF Themochemical Tables, Fourth Edition | date=11 February 1998 | pages=1–1951 | last1=Chase | first1=M. W. }}

| Entropy =

| HeatCapacity =

}}

| Section7 = {{Chembox Hazards

| ExternalSDS =[https://web.archive.org/web/20110707151939/http://www.apfc.com/pdf/AMMONIUM_PERCHLORATE_MATERIAL_SAFETY_DATA_SHEET.pdf External MSDS][https://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9922929 Ammonium perchlorate MSDS]. Sigma-Aldrich

| GHSPictograms = {{GHS01}}{{GHS03}}{{GHS07}}{{GHS08}}

| GHSSignalWord = Danger

| HPhrases = {{H-phrases|201|271|319|373}}

| PPhrases = {{P-phrases|210|220|221|230|240|250|260|264|280|283|305+351+338|306+360|314|337+313|370+378|370+380|371+380+375|372|373|401|501}}

| NFPA-H = 1

| NFPA-F = 0

| NFPA-R = 2

| NFPA-S = OX

}}

| Section8 = {{Chembox Related

| OtherAnions = Ammonium chlorate
Ammonium chloride

| OtherCations = Potassium perchlorate
Sodium perchlorate
Lithium perchlorate

| OtherCompounds = Perchloric acid
Ammonium perbromate

}}

Ammonium perchlorate ("AP") is an inorganic compound with the formula {{nowrap|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.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}}

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.{{cite journal | last1 = Boggs | first1 = T. L. | year = 1970 | title = Deflagration Rate, Surface Structure and Subsurface Profile of Self-Deflagrating Single Crystals of Ammonium Perchlorate | journal = AIAA Journal | volume = 8 | issue = 5| pages = 867–873 | doi=10.2514/3.5780| bibcode = 1970AIAAJ...8..867B }} 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 micrometresNFPA 400: Hazardous Materials Code, 2010 and is classified as an explosive for particle sizes less than 15 micrometres.NFPA 495: Explosive Materials Code, 2010"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

Applications

During World War I England and France used mixtures featuring ammonium perchlorate (such as "balstine") as a substitute high explosive.

The primary use of ammonium perchlorate is in making solid rocket propellants.[http://www.itrcweb.org/Documents/PERC-1.pdf "Perchlorate: Overview of Issues, Status, and Remedial Actions"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315001320/http://www.itrcweb.org/Documents/PERC-1.pdf |date=15 March 2012 }}, ITRC, September 2005 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 propellants – space 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 2–4g/kg and is eliminated rapidly after ingestion. 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.

ammonium perchlorate

Production

Decomposition

Applications

Toxicity

References

Further reading