Chapter 7, Problem 28A

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The unbalanced chemical equation corresponding to the decomposition of ammonium nitrate needs to be presented.

Concept Introduction:

• A chemical reaction is expressed as a chemical equation having reactants and products on the left and right side of the reaction arrow respectively.

  $\text{Reactants }\to \text{ Products}$

• It also gives the physical state (solid (s), liquid (l), gas (g) and the amount of reactants and products involved in the reaction.

Answer to Problem 28A

  ${\text{NH}}_4{\text{NO}}_3\text{(s) }\to {\text{N}}_2{\text{(g) + O}}_2{\text{(g) + H}}_{\text{2}}\text{O (g)}$

Explanation of Solution

The given process involves the decomposition or breakdown of solid ammonium nitrate into gaseous nitrogen, oxygen and water vapor. The reactants and products are:

Reactant:

  ${\text{Ammonium nitrate, solid - NH}}_4{\text{NO}}_3\text{(s)}$

Products:

  $\begin{array}{l}{\text{Nitrogen, gas - N}}_2(\text{g})\\ {\text{Oxygen, gas - O}}_2\text{ (g)}\\ {\text{Water vapor - H}}_{\text{2}}\text{O (g)}\end{array}$

Unbalanced equation:

  ${\text{NH}}_4{\text{NO}}_3\text{(s) }\to {\text{N}}_2{\text{(g) + O}}_2{\text{(g) + H}}_{\text{2}}\text{O (g)}$

Conclusion

Therefore, the unbalanced reaction will have solid ammonium nitrate as the reactant with nitrogen, oxygen and water vapor as the products.