Concept:The Beirut blast in August 2020 was caused by the detonation of a large stockpile of ammonium nitrate stored unsafely in a warehouse.
Explanation:Over 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate (
NH4​NO3​) had been confiscated from a cargo ship in 2014 and stored at the port of Beirut.
Ammonium nitrate is a white crystalline solid, highly soluble in water, and commonly used as a high-nitrogen fertilizer.
It is also a strong oxidizer and can explode when subjected to intense heat, shock, or contamination.
On August 4, 2020, a fire in the warehouse initiated the detonation, causing a massive explosion that killed over 100 people and wounded thousands.
Other options are not correct for this specific event:
• Dynamite is a mixture of nitroglycerin and stabilizers, used mainly in mining.
• RDX (
C3​H6​N6​O6​) is a powerful military explosive.
• Mercury nitride (
Hg3​N2​ or
[Hg2​N](NO3​)) is unstable and not commonly encountered.
Thus, the blast was caused by ammonium nitrate.
Answer:Ammonium Nitrate