What exploded in the AZF fertilizer factory incident in France?

Unlock all questions

This demo includes only 20 questions. Upgrade to access hundreds of questions, flashcards, exam simulations, and disable ads.

Full question bankExam simulationsFlashcards
From $9.99Unlock all

Prepare for the SAChE Chemical Reactivity Hazards Test with detailed flashcards and multiple choice questions. Each question is equipped with helpful hints and explanations to ensure you're exam ready!

Multiple Choice

What exploded in the AZF fertilizer factory incident in France?

Explanation:
Ammonium nitrate is an oxidizer that can detonate when heated, shocked, or confined, especially in large quantities. At the AZF fertilizer plant, hundreds of tonnes of ammonium nitrate were stored, and the conditions—heat, confinement, and potential impurities—led to a violent detonation rather than a simple fire. The other substances listed do not fit this incident: hydrochloric acid is corrosive and not an explosive, methyl isocyanate is highly toxic but not the agent in this explosion, and the remaining option is not the explosive involved here.

Ammonium nitrate is an oxidizer that can detonate when heated, shocked, or confined, especially in large quantities. At the AZF fertilizer plant, hundreds of tonnes of ammonium nitrate were stored, and the conditions—heat, confinement, and potential impurities—led to a violent detonation rather than a simple fire. The other substances listed do not fit this incident: hydrochloric acid is corrosive and not an explosive, methyl isocyanate is highly toxic but not the agent in this explosion, and the remaining option is not the explosive involved here.

More Multiple Choice Questions
Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy