Mabus
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Why do Ca(NO3)2 fertilizers contain NH4NO3 but not others?
I've been trying to find a proper OTC source of calcium nitrate, and while I have found plenty of fertilizers that are labeled as calcium nitrate, all
that I've tested so far, also have a few percentages of ammonium nitrate. From what I determined by reading the label, the fertilizers are not Calcium
Ammonium Nitrate (CAN), since, going by the percentages of elements given on the label, there is too little nitrogen and hydrogen.
However, when I tested other fertilizers (just added a bit of aq. NaOH to see if any ammonia is released), like magnesium nitrate, there was no
ammonium nitrate present.
Why do they add ammonium nitrate in the calcium nitrate?
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Tsjerk
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I guess it is made from calcium hydroxide and ammonium nitrate. If this is the case better pH (closer too neutral) is obtained when a small excess of
ammonium nitrate is used.
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UC235
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Because it's usually the double salt 5Ca(NO3)2•NH4NO3•10H2O which is not classed as an oxidizer by DOT and legally shippable anywhere without
increased costs.
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Tsjerk
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Or that
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