Question

Write the balanced chemical equation for the following: In the explosive decomposition of dynamite, liquid nitroglycerine (C3H5N3O9) explodes to produce a mixture of gases: carbon dioxide, water vapor, nitrogen, and oxygen. (Hint: nitroglycerine is not reacting with oxygen so O2 is not a reactant.). What is the coefficient in front of water

Answer 1

10

Step-by-step explanation:

From the question given above, we were told that liquid nitroglycerine (C₃H₅N₃O₉) explode to produce carbon dioxide (CO₂), water vapor (H₂O), nitrogen (N₂) and oxygen (O₂)

This can be expressed in the equation below:

C₃H₅N₃O₉ —> CO₂ + H₂O + N₂ + O₂

Next, we shall determine balanced the equation in order to obtain the coefficient of water. This can be obtained as follow:

C₃H₅N₃O₉ —> CO₂ + H₂O + N₂ + O₂

There are 3 atoms of N on the left side and 2 atoms on the right side. It can be balance by writing 4 before C₃H₅N₃O₉ and 6 before N₂ as shown below:

4C₃H₅N₃O₉ —> CO₂ + H₂O + 6N₂ + O₂

There are 12 atoms of C on the left side and 1 on the right side. It can be balance by writing 12 before CO₂ as shown below:

4C₃H₅N₃O₉ —> 12CO₂ + H₂O + 6N₂ + O₂

There are 20 atoms of H on the left side and 2 atoms on the right side. It can be balance by writing 10 before H₂O as shown below:

4C₃H₅N₃O₉ —> 12CO₂ + 10H₂O + 6N₂ + O₂

Now the equation is balanced. The coefficient of water, H₂O in the equation is 10