which would be the best anwser here?
my guess was D but i wanna be sure
Ammonium nitrate is sometimes used as a high explosive which reason best explains this?
A)extremely water soluble
B)contains ammonium ions
C)excellent commerical fertlizer
D)contains nitrogen in both its highest and lowest oxidation state
E)none
NH4 NO3 is a high explosive because it reacts with organics with a high energy in a fast reaction...and is cheap. Ammonium nitrate by itself can explode at elevated temperatures as it decomposes to nitrous oxide, so the best answer would be E.
To determine the best answer, let's evaluate each option:
A) Extremely water-soluble: While ammonium nitrate is indeed highly soluble in water, water solubility alone does not explain why it is sometimes used as a high explosive.
B) Contains ammonium ions: This statement is true, as ammonium nitrate is composed of ammonium ions (NH4+) and nitrate ions (NO3-). However, the presence of ammonium ions alone does not adequately explain why it is used as a high explosive.
C) Excellent commercial fertilizer: While ammonium nitrate is commonly used as a fertilizer due to its high nitrogen content, this does not explain why it is also used as a high explosive.
D) Contains nitrogen in both its highest and lowest oxidation state: This statement is partially true, as ammonium nitrate contains nitrogen in both its highest oxidation state (+5 in nitrate ions) and lowest oxidation state (-3 in ammonium ions). However, this fact alone does not fully explain its high explosiveness.
E) None: This option indicates that none of the given reasons sufficiently explain why ammonium nitrate is sometimes used as a high explosive.
Based on the information provided, the best answer would indeed be E (none). Ammonium nitrate is highly explosive due to its ability to react with organics with high energy in a fast reaction, particularly when combined with other substances. Additionally, ammonium nitrate can decompose at elevated temperatures, releasing nitrous oxide, which can lead to explosive reactions.