Urea nitrate

Not to be confused with nitrourea.

Urea nitrate

Identifiers

CAS Number

* 124-47-0 Y

3D model (JSmol)

* Interactive image

ChemSpider |

* 29035 N

PubChem CID

* 31295

UNII |

* DHJ35702MG Y

InChI

* InChI=1S/CH4N2O.HNO3/c2*2-1(3)4/h(H4,2,3,4);(H,2,3,4) N

Key: AYTGUZPQPXGYFS-UHFFFAOYSA-N N

* InChI=1/CH4N2O.HNO3/c2*2-1(3)4/h(H4,2,3,4);(H,2,3,4)

Key: AYTGUZPQPXGYFS-UHFFFAOYAL

SMILES

* C(=O)(N)N.[N+](=O)(O)[O-]

Properties

Chemical formula

| CH5N3O4
Molar mass | 123.068 g·mol−1
Density | 1.67±0.011 g/cm3[1]
Melting point |  157–159 °C (315–318 °F; 430–432 K)

Solubility in water

| 167.2±0.5 mg/mL[1]
Solubility in Ethanol | 14.2±0.1 mg/mL[1]
Solubility in Acetone | 10.4±0.2 mg/mL[1]
Solubility in Methanol | 54.8±0.9 mg/mL[1]
Explosive data
Shock sensitivity | Low
Friction sensitivity | Low
Detonation velocity | 4700 m/s
Hazards
GHS pictograms |
GHS Signal word | DANGER

GHS hazard statements

| H201, H271, H301, H304, H314, H332

GHS precautionary statements

| P220, P233, P260, P250, P305+351+338
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)  |

Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

N verify (what is YN ?)
Infobox references

Tracking categories (test):

* SizeSet

Crystals of urea nitrate

Urea nitrate is a fertilizer-based high explosive that has been used in improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, and various terrorist acts elsewhere in the world such as in the 1993 World Trade Center bombings.[2] It has a destructive power similar to better-known ammonium nitrate explosives, with a velocity of detonation between 3,400 m/s (11,155 ft/s) and 4,700 m/s (15,420 ft/s).[3] It has chemical formula of CH

4 or (NH

2COHNO

Urea nitrate is produced in one step by reaction of urea with nitric acid. This is an exothermic reaction, so steps must be taken to control the temperature.

It was discovered in 1797 by William Cruickshank,[4] inventor of the Chloralkali process.

Urea nitrate explosions may be initiated using a blasting cap.[3]

## Contents

* 1 Chemistry
* 2 References
* 3 Further reading
* 4 External links

## Chemistry

Urea contains a carbonyl group. The more electronegative oxygen atom pulls electrons away from the carbon atom, forming a polar bond with greater electron density around the oxygen atom, giving it a partial negative charge. In a simplistic sense, nitric acid dissociates in aqueous solution into protons (hydrogen cations) and nitrate anions. The electrophilic proton contributed by the acid is attracted to the negatively charged oxygen atom on the urea molecule and the two form a covalent bond. The formed O-H bond is stabilized into a hydroxyl group when the oxygen abstracts an electron pair away from the central carbon atom, which leads to bond resonance between it and the two amino groups. As such, the urea cation can be thought of as a amidinium species. Paired with the spectator nitrate counteranion, it forms urea nitrate.

(NH

2CO (aq) + HNO
3 (aq) → [(NH

2COH]+
[NO
3]−
(s)

The compound is favored by many amateur explosive enthusiasts as a principal explosive for use in larger charges. In this role it acts as a substitute for ammonium nitrate based explosives. This is due to the ease of acquiring the materials necessary to synthesize it, and its greater sensitivity to initiation compared to ammonium nitrate based explosives.[5]

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Oxley, Jimmie C.; Smith, James L.; Vadlamannati, Sravanthi; Brown, Austin C.; Zhang, Guang; Swanson, Devon S.; Canino, Jonathan (2013). "Synthesis and Characterization of Urea Nitrate and Nitrourea". Propellants, Explosives, Pyrotechnics 38 (3): 335–344. doi:10.1002/prep.201200178. https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/chm_facpubs/824.
2. ↑ Aaron Rowe (18 September 2007). "Chem Lab: Spray-On Test for Improvised Explosives". Wired. http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2007/09/spray-on-test-f.html.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Explosives - ANFO (Ammonium Nitrate - Fuel Oil)". GlobalSecurity.org. https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/explosives-anfo.htm.
4. ↑ Rosenfeld, Louis (1999) (in en). Four Centuries of Clinical Chemistry. CRC Press. ISBN 978-90-5699-645-1. https://books.google.com/books?id=KPX6Yvax9jkC&pg=PA40.
5. ↑ D'Uva, Joshua A.; DeTata, David; Fillingham, Ryan; Dunsmore, Robert; Lewis, Simon W. (December 2021). "Synthesis and characterisation of homemade urea nitrate explosive from commercial sources of urea" (in en). Forensic Chemistry 26. doi:10.1016/j.forc.2021.100369. https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2468170921000655.

## Further reading

* "Recovery and detection of urea nitrate in traces". J. Forensic Sci. 52 (6): 1284–90. November 2007. doi:10.1111/j.1556-4029.2007.00551.x. PMID 17868267.
* Mr.X (July 2008). "Improvised Urea Nitrate". Aware EZine Gamma. http://www.awarenetwork.org/etc/gamma/?x=5. Retrieved 2008-11-11.

## External links

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Retrieved from "https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Chemistry:Urea_nitrate&oldid=4037293"
*[CID]: Compound ID
*[H201]: Explosive: mass explosion hazard
*[H271]: May cause fire or explosion: strong oxidizer
*[H301]: Toxic if swallowed
*[H304]: May be fatal if swallowed and enters airways
*[H314]: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage
*[H332]: Harmful if inhaled
*[P220]: Keep/Store away from clothing/…/combustible materials
*[P233]: Keep container tightly closed
*[P260]: Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray
*[P250]: Do not subject to grinding/shock/…/friction
*[P305+351+338]: IF IN EYES: Rinse continuously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses if present and easy to do – continue rinsing