Ammonium perchlorate
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Ammonium perchlorate ("AP") is an inorganic compound with the formula Template:Chem2. It is a colorless or white solid that is soluble in water. It is a powerful oxidizer and a major component of ammonium perchlorate composite propellant. Its instability has involved it in accidents such as the PEPCON disaster, and has been suspected as the cause of the Port of Shahid Rajaee explosion.
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 Template:Chem2, which is about 10% of that for sodium perchlorate.<ref name=Ullmann>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. Template:Doi</ref>
AP crystallises as colorless rhombohedra.
Decomposition
Like most ammonium salts, ammonium perchlorate decomposes before melting:Template:Cn
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.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Strong heating may lead to explosions. Complete reactions leave no residue. Pure crystals cannot sustain a flame below the pressure of Template:Convert.Template:Cn
AP is a Class 4 oxidizer (can undergo an explosive reaction) for particle sizes over 15 micrometres and is classified as an explosive for particle sizes less than 15 micrometres.Template:Cn
Applications
During World War I England and France used mixtures featuring ammonium perchlorate (such as "perammons") as a substitute high explosive.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Additional citation needed
The primary use of ammonium perchlorate is in making solid rocket propellants.Template:Citation needed 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 composite rocket propellants (including the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster), military, amateur, and hobbyist high-power rockets, as well as in some fireworks.Template:Cn
Toxicity
Perchlorate itself confers little acute toxicity. For example, sodium perchlorate has an Template:LD50 of 2–4g/kg and is eliminated rapidly after ingestion.<ref name=Ullmann/> 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.Template:Cn