Ammonium perchlorate was used in the disaster that occurred in what city?
Ammonium perchlorate Ammonium perchlorate ("AP") is an inorganic compound with the formula NHClO. It is a colorless or white solid that is soluble in water. Perchlorate is a powerful oxidizer and ammonium is a good fuel. This combination explains the usefulness of this material as a rocket propellant. Its instability has involved it in a number of accidents, such as the PEPCON disaster.
1984 Romeoville petroleum refinery disaster On July 23, 1984, an explosion and fire took place at a Union Oil petroleum refinery in Romeoville, Illinois, outside Chicago, killing 17 people and causing major property damage. The explosive force propelled the upper portion 14 m of the vessel a distance of 1 km from its original location, while the base remained at the center of the resultant fire.