Final answer:
Ammonium nitrite can be used to prepare nitrogen gas through decomposition that yields nitrogen and water. However, the question might be confusing ammonium nitrite with ammonium nitrate, which can also decompose but with potential for explosive reactions, making it unsafe for nitrogen gas preparation.
Step-by-step explanation:
It appears there might be some confusion in the question, as it mentions ammonium nitrite, NH₄NO₂, which indeed does decompose to yield nitrogen gas, N₂, and water when heated. This decomposition is actually a common laboratory method for preparing nitrogen gas, given by the equation:
NH₄NO₂(s) → N₂(g) + 2H₂O(g)
The reaction of ammonium nitrate, NH₄NO₃, which the additional context seems to refer to, is different. Careful heating of ammonium nitrate can produce nitrous oxide (N₂O) and water, while more vigorous heating can lead to a decomposition reaction producing nitrogen gas, oxygen, and water vapor. However, this reaction can be very explosive and dangerous, as evidenced by historical disasters, making it impractical and unsafe for general lab preparation of nitrogen gas.