Question

In a typical explosive reaction, which of the following usually occurs?

1) gases are converted from one form into another
2) liquids or solids are converted to aqueous solutions
3) liquids or solids are converted to gases
4) nitrogen nuclei are split

Answer 1

In a typical explosive reaction, liquids or solids are converted to gases, accompanied by a transfer of energy and often a rapid increase in volume.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a typical explosive reaction, such as the decomposition of ammonium nitrate, liquids or solids are converted to gases. This is evidenced by the thermal decomposition of ammonium nitrate into water vapor and nitrous oxide, which upon further heating, breaks down into nitrogen gas and oxygen gas.

This reaction is an example of a violent chemical change, characterized by a transfer of energy, the production of gases, and an increase in volume. A notable feature of many explosive reactions is the rapid production of gas that contributes to the explosive force.

While a change in color can occur during some reactions, and a solid called a precipitate can be produced in others, these are not defining characteristics of explosive reactions. Moreover, although nuclear reactions can be explosive, they involve changes in the nucleus of an atom and are not typical of chemical explosive reactions, which involve changes in the electronic structure rather than the nucleus.