Question

Ammonium perchlorate NH

4

ClO

4

 is the solid rocket fuel used by the U.S. Space Shuttle. It reacts with itself to produce nitrogen gas N

2

, chlorine gas Cl

2

, oxygen gas O

2

, water H

2

O

, and a great deal of energy.

What mass of chlorine gas is produced by the reaction of 

7.59

g

of ammonium perchlorate?

Answer 1

2NH₄ClO₄ → N₂ + Cl₂ + 2O₂ + 4H₂O

M(NH₄ClO₄) = 117.5 g/mol

$n = \frac{m}{M}$

n(NH₄ClO₄) $= \frac{7.59}{117.5}=0.06459 \;mol$

According to the reaction equation

n(Cl₂) $= \frac{1}{2}$ n(NH₄ClO₄)

$= \frac{1}{2} \times 0.06459 \\ = 0.03229 \;mol$

M(Cl₂) = 73.93 g/mol

m(Cl₂) $= 0.03229 \times 73.93 = 2.38 \;g$

Answer: 2.38 g