Question

Give the balanced equation for the action of heat on the following compound:

Sodium nitrate

Answer 1

Action of heat on sodium nitrate (${\mathrm{NaNO}}_3$):

• On heating sodium nitrate decomposes into sodium nitrite and oxygen.
• This is a decomposition reaction.

Decomposition reaction:

• When the molecules of one substance split into two or more simpler substances, the reaction is called a decomposition reaction.
• These reactions are brought about in the presence of an external agent such as heat, light, and electricity.

The balanced equation is:

$$\begin{gathered} 2{\mathrm{NaNO}}_3\stackrel{∆}{\to }2{\mathrm{NaNO}}_2+{\mathrm{O}}_2 \\ \mathrm{Sodium}\mathrm{nitrate}\mathrm{Sodium}\mathrm{nitrite}\mathrm{Oxygen} \end{gathered}$$