What is ammonium nitrate and why did it devastate Beirut? | Forbes

On Tuesday Beirut was faced with an explosion linked to ammonium nitrate. Ammonium nitrate is used to help fertilize nitrogen poor soil. However, when kept in big quantities over time or mixed with something like diesel it can cause massage damage and death fairly easily. This is also what many terrorists have used because of it being so cheap and easy to produce.

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2020/08/05/what-is-ammonium-nitrate-and-how-did-it-devastate-beirut/#6a1efea610f4