Difference Between Calcium Ammonium Nitrate and Ammonium Nitrate

The key difference between calcium ammonium nitrate and ammonium nitrate is that calcium ammonium nitrate contains some amount of calcium along with ammonium nitrate whereas ammonium nitrate is the nitrate salt of ammonium cation which has no calcium in it.

The terms calcium ammonium nitrate and ammonium nitrate come under the sub-topic fertilizers. Both these are high-nitrogen fertilizers. But calcium ammonium nitrate is rich with some other trace elements like calcium carbonate, ammonium nitrate, etc.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Calcium Ammonium Nitrate 
3. What is Ammonium Nitrate
4. Side by Side Comparison – Calcium Ammonium Nitrate vs Ammonium Nitrate in Tabular Form
5. Summary

What is Calcium Ammonium Nitrate?

Calcium ammonium nitrate is an inorganic compound that is widely used as a fertilizer. It accounts for about 4% of the total nitrogen-fertilizer utilization worldwide. Other names we use for this compound are nitro-limestone and nitrochalk. We can denote this fertilizer compound as CAN.

The chemical formula of this compound is variable, depending on the components we use in the production of this fertilizer. Basically, it has about 20-30% calcium carbonate and 70-80% ammonium nitrate. However, there can be different formulations we name collectively as calcium ammonium nitrate.

There are two major ways to produce calcium ammonium nitrate:

1. Adding powdered limestone to ammonium nitrate produces a formula of calcium ammonium nitrate
2. Crystallization of the compound as a hydrated double salt from a mixture of calcium nitrate and ammonium nitrate produces a different formula of calcium ammonium nitrate

Calcium ammonium nitrate is a highly hygroscopic compound. It dissolves in water as an endothermal process. Therefore, in addition to its use as a fertilizer, this compound is important in some instant cold packs as well.

What is Ammonium Nitrate?

Ammonium nitrate is an inorganic compound having the chemical formula NH₄NO₃. It is the nitrate salt of ammonium cation. Therefore, it has ammonium cation and nitrate anion. The compound can be made as a white crystalline solid, and it is highly water-soluble, forming the ammonium and nitrate ions in aqueous solution.

Besides, this is a high-nitrogen fertilizer we can use in agriculture. Other than that, we can use it as a major component in explosives used in mining, quarrying, etc. We can produce this compound in industrial-scale via acid-base reaction of ammonia and nitric acid.

What is the Difference Between Calcium Ammonium Nitrate and Ammonium Nitrate?

Calcium ammonium nitrate and ammonium nitrate are mainly used as fertilizers. The key difference between calcium ammonium nitrate and ammonium nitrate is that calcium ammonium nitrate contains some amount of calcium along with ammonium nitrate whereas ammonium nitrate is the nitrate salt of ammonium cation which has no calcium in it. Basically, it has about 20-30% calcium carbonate and 70-80% ammonium nitrate.

We can define Calcium ammonium nitrate as an inorganic compound which is widely used as a fertilizer while ammonium nitrate is an inorganic compound having the chemical formula NH₄NO₃. Furthermore, calcium ammonium nitrate is important as a fertilizer, useful in instant cold packs while ammonium nitrate is useful as a fertilizer, as a major component in explosives.

Below infographic summarizes the difference between calcium ammonium nitrate and ammonium nitrate.

Summary – Calcium Ammonium Nitrate vs Ammonium Nitrate

The key difference between calcium ammonium nitrate and ammonium nitrate is that calcium ammonium nitrate contains some amount of calcium along with ammonium nitrate whereas ammonium nitrate is the nitrate salt of ammonium cation which has no calcium in it.

Reference:

1. “Ammonium Nitrate.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., Available here.
2. “Ammonium Nitrate.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 11 Sept. 2019, Available here.
3. “1. Overview and Introduction to Industrial Inorganic Processes.” Industrial Inorganic Chemistry, pp. 1–2., doi:10.1515/9783110330335-002.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Ammonium Nitrate” By Teravolt at en.wikipedia – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Ammonium nitrate CN” By Tszrkx – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia