Question

1. choose the best answer. ammonium nitrate, nh₄no₃, is a popular fertilizer because it decomposes into nitrogen gas (n₂), oxygen gas (o₂), and water vapor (h₂o). which of the following best represents the products of this reaction? ○ n₂(aq) + o₂(aq) ○ n(g) + o(g) + h₂o(g) ○ nh₄(g) + no₃(g) ○ n₂(g) + o₂(g) + h₂o(g)

Explanation:

The problem is about the decomposition of ammonium nitrate (\(NH_4NO_3\)). The question states that it decomposes into nitrogen gas (\(N_2\)), oxygen gas (\(O_2\)), and water vapor (\(H_2O\)). We need to check the state symbols and the products.

1. The first option has \(N_2(aq)\) and \(O_2(aq)\), but the products are gases, not aqueous, so this is incorrect.
2. The second option has \(N(g)\) and \(O(g)\), but the products are \(N_2\) and \(O_2\) (diatomic gases), not single atoms, so this is incorrect.
3. The third option shows \(NH_4(g)\) and \(NO_3(g)\), which are not the products of decomposition (the decomposition produces \(N_2\), \(O_2\), and \(H_2O\), not the ions of ammonium nitrate), so this is incorrect.
4. The fourth option has \(N_2(g)\), \(O_2(g)\), and \(H_2O(g)\), which matches the description of the products (gaseous nitrogen, gaseous oxygen, and gaseous water vapor).

Answer:

D. \(N_2(g) + O_2(g) + H_2O(g)\) (assuming the options are labeled A, B, C, D in order, with the last option being D)