Question

If a sample containing 3.00 ml of nitroglycerin (density=1.592g/ml) is detonated, how many total moles of gas are produced?

Answer 1

To determine the number of moles of gas produced from the detonation, we need to know the reaction that happens. For the detonation of nitrogycerin, the reaction is expressed as:

4C3H5NO9 = 12CO2 + 6N2 + O2 + 10H2O

All of the products from the reaction are gases. So, we need to calculate how much of each product is formed. We do as follows:

Moles C3H5NO9 = 3 mL ( 1.592 g/mL ) ( 1 mol / 227.09 g ) = 0.021 g C3H5NO9

moles CO2 = 0.021 g C3H5NO9 ( 12 mol CO2 / 4 mol C3H5NO9 ) = 0.063
moles N2 = 0.021 g C3H5NO9 ( 6 mol N2 / 4 mol C3H5NO9 ) = 0.032
moles O2 = 0.021 g C3H5NO9 ( 1 mol O2 / 4 mol C3H5NO9 ) = 0.0053
moles H2O = 0.021 g C3H5NO9 ( 10 mol H2O / 4 mol C3H5NO9 ) = 0.053

total moles of product = 0.153 moles