H1P2: DECOMPOSITION OF AMMONIUM NITRATE
Solid NH4NO3 (ammonium nitrate) decomposes on heating to 400°C, forming N2O gas and water vapor, H2O.
(a)Write a balanced chemical equation.
NH4NO3 ==> N2O + 2H2O
To write a balanced chemical equation for the decomposition of ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), we need to ensure that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation.
The decomposition of NH4NO3 can be represented by the following equation:
2 NH4NO3 -> 2 N2O + 4 H2O
In this equation, we have two molecules of ammonium nitrate decomposing to form two molecules of nitrous oxide gas (N2O) and four molecules of water vapor (H2O). By balancing the equation, we ensure that the number of atoms of each element is equal on both sides.
To balance the equation, you can follow these steps:
1. Start by balancing the least complex element first, which is nitrogen (N).
The nitrogen atoms are balanced on both sides of the equation as there are two on each side.
2. Next, balance the oxygen (O) atoms by adjusting the number of molecules involved.
On the left side, there are six oxygen atoms in two NH4NO3 molecules.
On the right side, there are two oxygen atoms in one N2O molecule and eight oxygen atoms in four H2O molecules.
To balance the oxygen atoms, we need to multiply NH4NO3 by 4 on the left side:
4 NH4NO3 -> 2 N2O + 4 H2O
3. Finally, balance the hydrogen (H) atoms.
On the left side, there are eight hydrogen atoms in four NH4NO3 molecules.
On the right side, there are four hydrogen atoms in two N2O molecules and eight hydrogen atoms in four H2O molecules.
The hydrogen atoms are already balanced as there are eight on both sides.
Thus, the balanced chemical equation for the decomposition of ammonium nitrate is:
4 NH4NO3 -> 2 N2O + 4 H2O