Question

Which of the following shows the balanced equation for the reaction that represents the decomposition of ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3)?

NH4NO3 -> N2O + 2H2O

N2O + 2H2O -> NH4NO3

2NH4NO3 -> 3N2O + 2H2O

3N2O + 2H2O -> 2NH4NO3

Answer 1

Decomposition means the reactant is breaking up into multiple products. Usually decomposition reactions only have 1 reactant.

Answer 2

Usually an endothermic process.

Answer 3

.-. WhAt does that mean?

Answer 4

Decomposition is the opposite of synthesis - you start with one compound, and the reaction breaks it down into simpler compounds. This means NH4NO3 will be the reactant, so the answer is either 1st or the 3rd option. In both cases the products are the same, so we just need to see which equation is balanced properly. If you count up the number of atoms on both sides, you'll find they're equal in the first reaction only, so that's your answer!

Answer 5

.-. I still don't understand. How do I make h=o?

Answer 6

You want to make sure you have the same number of each kind of atom in the products as you do in the reactants. So for the first reaction:

- On the reactant side, NH4NO3 has 2 N atoms. On the product side, N2O has 2 N atoms. So we have the same number of N atoms on both sides.

- On the reactant side, NH4NO3 has 4 H atoms. On the product side, H2O has 2 H atoms, but you have two H2O's, so you really have 4 H atoms. So we have the same number of H atoms on both sides.

- On the reactant side, NH4NO3 has 3 O atoms. On the product side, N2O has 1 O atom, and each of the two H2O's has 1 O atom, giving 3 O atoms total. So we have the same number of O atoms on both sides.

You can see that everything balances out! If you compared the numbers of each atom on each side for the third reaction, you'd see they wouldn't match up.

Does that make sense?

Answer 7

Kinda..... How do I translate that into an answer though

Answer 8

Well the answer is the first reaction you have listed...that's it!

Answer 9

.-. Hum.... Okay.... Thank you c: