Periodic Table Poster   My periodic table poster is now available!Periodic Table PosterPeriodic Table PosterPeriodic Table Poster
3D3DToy Anhydrous Ammonia tank.
In farm fields around the world you can often see tanks of "anhydrous", by which the farmer means anhydrous, or water-free pure ammonia, NH3. Ammonia is a nasty, smelly, and dangerous chemical, but if you squirt it down a few inches under the ground when there is a reasonable amount of moisture in the soil, it is instantly dissolved into the earth and becomes nourishment for the crops in the field. By this means vast amounts of nitrogen can be added cheaply and quickly. Unfortunately much of it runs off into streams and ultimately into the ocean, where it causes huge toxic algal blooms, because in sea water as in soil, nitrogen is often the limiting factor in plant or algae growth. On the plus side, it makes possible the feeding of billions of people who would otherwise starve to death. Life is full of trade-offs like that, though in this case a little smarter management would all but eliminate the negatives.

This is a toy anhydrous tank. I suppose the obvious question is, why on earth does the world see fit to bring about the creation of a toy anhydrous ammonia tank? Not just one, of course, but thousands, because in fact they can be found in farm supply stores, implement dealers, sometimes even gas stations, all over certain parts of the country. Simply put, there's a demand for it: Dad's got a tractor, you need a toy tractor. Dad's got an anhydrous tank, you need a toy anhydrous tank. Nothing odd here, so just get over it you snickering city folk.

Source: Farm & Fleet
Contributor: Theodore Gray
Acquired: 25 April, 2003
Text Updated: 28 February, 2009
Price: $25
Size: 12"
Purity: 0%
Nitrogen