Question

ammonium nitrate (nh₄no₃) is an important ingredient in many fertilizers. it decomposes to produce nitrous oxide (n₂o) and water (h₂o). which chemical equation accurately represents this reaction? nh₄no₃ (s) → 2h₂o (g) + n₂o (g) nh₄no₃ (s) → h₂o (g) + n₂o (g) 2nh₄no₃ (s) → 4h₂o (g) + n₂o (g) nh₄no₃ (s) → h₂o (g) + 2n₂o (g)

Explanation:

Step1: Count atoms on both sides

For \(NH_4NO_3(s)\to2H_2O(g)+N_2O(g)\)

• Nitrogen (N):
• Left side: In \(NH_4NO_3\), there are \(2\) N atoms (\(1\) from \(NH_4^+\) and \(1\) from \(NO_3^-\)).
• Right side: In \(N_2O\), there are \(2\) N atoms.
• Hydrogen (H):
• Left side: In \(NH_4NO_3\), there are \(4\) H atoms (\(4\) in \(NH_4^+\)).
• Right side: In \(2H_2O\), there are \(2\times2 = 4\) H atoms.
• Oxygen (O):
• Left side: In \(NH_4NO_3\), there are \(3\) O atoms (\(3\) in \(NO_3^-\)).
• Right side: In \(2H_2O\) there are \(2\) O atoms and in \(N_2O\) there is \(1\) O atom, total \(2 + 1=3\) O atoms.

Step2: Check other equations for imbalance

• For \(NH_4NO_3(s)\to H_2O(g)+N_2O(g)\)
• H: Left has \(4\), right has \(2\) (unbalanced).
• For \(2NH_4NO_3(s)\to4H_2O(g)+N_2O(g)\)
• N: Left has \(4\), right has \(2\) (unbalanced).
• For \(NH_4NO_3(s)\to H_2O(g)+2N_2O(g)\)
• N: Left has \(2\), right has \(4\) (unbalanced).

Answer:

\(NH_4NO_3(s)\to2H_2O(g)+N_2O(g)\)