Answer to Question #198167 in Chemistry for Jordan Weissert

Question

Ammonium nitrate (NH.NO,) decomposes to yield nitrogen gas, water, and oxygen gas.

a. Write the balanced chemical reaction:

b. How many grams of water are produced when 36.0 grams of ammonium

nitrate decompose?

Answer 1

Solution:

Ammonium nitrate = NH₄NO₃

a) Balanced chemical equation:

2NH₄NO₃(s) → 2N₂(g) + O₂(g) + 4H₂O(g)

b) The molar mass of NH₄NO₃ is 80.0 g/mol.

Therefore,

(36.0 g NH₄NO₃) × (1 mol NH₄NO₃ / 80.0 g NH₄NO₃) = 0.45 mol NH₄NO₃

According to the equation above: n(NH₄NO₃) = n(H₂O)/2

n(H₂O) = 2 × n(NH₄NO₃) = 2 × 0.45 mol = 0.90 mol

The molar mass of H₂O is 18.0 g/mol.

Therefore,

(0.90 mol H₂O) × (18.0 g H₂O / 1 mol H₂O) = 16.2 g H₂O

Answers:

a) 2NH₄NO₃(s) → 2N₂(g) + O₂(g) + 4H₂O(g)

b) 16.2 g H₂O