Question

Take about 2 g of lead nitrate in a boiling tube and heat it, what is the type of this reaction?

Answer 1

1. Reaction: When lead nitrate ($\mathrm{Pb}{\left({\mathrm{NO}}_3\right)}_2$) is heated, it decomposes to produce lead oxide ($\mathrm{PbO}$), Nitrogen dioxide (${\mathrm{NO}}_2$), and Oxygen (${\mathrm{O}}_2$).
2. Chemical equation:

$$\begin{gathered} 2\mathrm{Pb}{\left({\mathrm{NO}}_3\right)}_2\left(\mathrm{s}\right)\stackrel{∆}{\to }2\mathrm{PbO}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+4{\mathrm{NO}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+{\mathrm{O}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right) \\ \mathrm{Lead}\mathrm{nitrate}\mathrm{Lead}\mathrm{oxide}\mathrm{Nitrogen}\mathrm{Oxygen} \\ \mathrm{dioxide} \end{gathered}$$

• Observation: When lead nitrate is heated, reddish-brown vapors of gaseous nitrogen dioxide are released.

3. Decomposition reaction: A reaction in which one reactant breaks down into two or more products.

4. Type of reaction: As lead nitrate is decomposing on heating, it is a Decomposition reaction.