Answer to Question #63272 in General Chemistry for S

Question

Chapter 8 (8.99)

The "plastic" explosive C-4, often used in action movies, contains the molecule cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine, which is often called RDX (for Royal Demolition eXplosive): the figure (Figure 1) .

1) The molecule causes an explosion by decomposing into CO(g), N2(g), and H2O(g). Write a balanced equation for the decomposition reaction.

2) Use average bond enthalpies to estimate the enthalpy change when 7.0 g of RDX decomposes.

3) how many resonance structures does it have?

Answer 1

1) C3H6N6O6 = 3CO + 3N2 + 3H2O;

2) The heat of explosion of RDX is 5.45 MJ/kg. Thus, 0.007 kg of RDX will give us 0.007 kg*5.45 MJ/kg = 38.2 kJ or -1.2 GJ/mol of enthalpy.

3) It has 8 resonance structures.