Question

nitrous oxide (n₂o), also known as laughing gas, is used as an anesthetic. it decomposes at high temperatures to form nitrogen gas (n₂) and oxygen gas (o₂). which model accurately represents this reaction?

Explanation:

Step1: Write the unbalanced chemical equation

The reaction is \(N_{2}O
ightarrow N_{2}+O_{2}\).

Step2: Balance the chemical equation

We use the law of conservation of mass. For the oxygen atoms, we have \(1\) on the left - hand side (LHS) and \(2\) on the right - hand side (RHS). So we put a coefficient of \(2\) in front of \(N_{2}O\): \(2N_{2}O
ightarrow N_{2}+O_{2}\). Now for nitrogen atoms, we have \(4\) on the LHS. So we put a coefficient of \(2\) in front of \(N_{2}\): \(2N_{2}O
ightarrow 2N_{2}+O_{2}\).

In terms of models, we count the number of \(N\) (blue) and \(O\) (red) atoms.

• In the first model: LHS has \(4N\) and \(2O\), RHS has \(2N\) and \(2O\) (not balanced for \(N\)).
• In the second model: LHS has \(4N\) and \(2O\), RHS has \(2N\) and \(4O\) (not balanced for \(N\) and \(O\)).
• In the third model: LHS has \(4N\) and \(2O\), RHS has \(4N\) and \(2O\) (balanced).
• In the fourth model: LHS has \(2N\) and \(1O\), RHS has \(4N\) and \(2O\) (not balanced for \(N\) and \(O\)).

Answer:

The third model.