Question

1. when ammonium nitrate (nh₄no₃) explodes, the products are nitrogen, oxygen and water. if 40 grams of ammonium nitrate exploded, 14 grams of nitrogen and 8 grams of oxygen formed. how many grams of water would be formed? justify your reasoning.

Explanation:

Step1: Recall the Law of Conservation of Mass

The Law of Conservation of Mass states that in a chemical reaction, the total mass of reactants is equal to the total mass of products. So, \( \text{Mass of } NH_4NO_3=\text{Mass of } N_2 + \text{Mass of } O_2+\text{Mass of } H_2O \)

Step2: Plug in the known values

We know that the mass of \( NH_4NO_3 = 40\space g \), mass of \( N_2=14\space g \), and mass of \( O_2 = 8\space g \). Let the mass of \( H_2O \) be \( x \). Then:
\( 40=14 + 8+x \)

Step3: Solve for \( x \)

First, calculate the sum of the masses of nitrogen and oxygen: \( 14 + 8=22\space g \)
Then, rearrange the equation to solve for \( x \): \( x=40 - 22 \)
\( x = 18\space g \)

Answer:

18 grams of water would be formed.