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Predicting Reaction of NH4Cl
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Topic: Predicting Reaction of NH4Cl (Read 3563 times)
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phoenixcelestius
New Member
Posts: 7
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Predicting Reaction of NH4Cl
«
on:
April 30, 2011, 11:17:37 PM »
*Sorry, NH4Cl in the title should be NH4CO3.
The problem is:
A sample of ammonium carbonate is heated.
The answer is:
(NH
4
)
2
CO
3
2NH
3
+ CO
2
+ H
2
O
My answer was that NH4CO3 would decompose into (NH4)2O and CO2 according to the process of carbonate decomposition, but that's not the case. Can someone please explain why?
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SirRoderick
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Posts: 101
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Re: Predicting Reaction of NH4Cl
«
Reply #1 on:
May 01, 2011, 04:18:54 AM »
The correct reaction is this: (NH4)2CO3 ---> 2NH3(g) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)
As to why yours doesn't happen...well, it just doesn't. (NH4)2O does not exist. If it were a metal carbonate you can form a metaloxide. In that case your reaction is correct.
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Schrödinger
Chemist
Sr. Member
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Re: Predicting Reaction of NH4Cl
«
Reply #2 on:
May 01, 2011, 04:23:18 AM »
The oxide is formed primarily in the case of metal cations. In this case, ammonia being a quite stable compound, is formed, and not ammonium oxide (I've never heard of that before!)
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phoenixcelestius
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Posts: 7
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Re: Predicting Reaction of NH4Cl
«
Reply #3 on:
May 01, 2011, 11:00:00 AM »
Thanks guys!
Another seemingly obvious question then: How do you distinguish between a stable compound and a unstable compound? Because ammonia is a "stable" base, while H2CO3 is apparently an "unstable" acid that decomposes into CO2 and H2O.
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SirRoderick
Full Member
Posts: 101
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Re: Predicting Reaction of NH4Cl
«
Reply #4 on:
May 01, 2011, 01:04:13 PM »
In cases like this, it really is just something you know. Working knowledge if you will.
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Predicting Reaction of NH4Cl