Question

Nitrogen triiodide (ni3) is a very unstable contact explosive which, like most explosives, releases a large amount of energy while producing significant volumes of gas. if 6.81 g of ni3 are detonated in a room with a pressure of 0.923 atm, and at 23.4°c, what volume of gas will be produced?

Answer 1

Let's assume ideal behavior so that we can apply the ideal gas equation.

PV = nRT
Solving for V,
V = nRT/P

The molar mass of NI₃ is 394.72 g/mol. So,
n = 6.81 g/394.72 g/mol = 0.01725 mol

V = (0.01725 mol)(0.0821 L·atm/mol·K)(23.4 +273 K)/0.923 atm
V = 0.455 L