Question

(a) if a sample containing 2.00 ml of nitroglycerin is detonated, how many total moles of gas are produced? (b) if each mole of gas occupies 55 l under the conditions of the explosion, how many liters of gas are produced? (c) how many grams of n2 are produced in the detonation?

Answer 1

Detonation of nitroglycerin: 

$4C_3H_5N_3O_9 ------\ \textgreater \ 12CO_2+6N_2+O_2+H_2O$

Mass nitroglycerin = 2.00 mL x 1.592 g/mL = 3.184 g 

Moles = mass / molar mass = 3.184 g/ 227.0872 g/mol = 0.01402

the ratio between nitroglycerin and Carbon dioxide is 4 : 12 
So, moles CO2 = 0.01402 x 12 / 4 =0.0420

the ratio between nitroglycerin and N2 is 4 : 6 
moles N2 = 0.01402 x 6 / 4 =0.0841

the ratio between nitroglycerin and O2 is 4 : 1 
moles O2 = 0.01402 x 1 / 4 = 0.0035

the ratio between nitroglycerin and water is 4 : 1 
in the same way moles water = 0.005258 

total moles = 0.0420 + 0.0841 + 0.0035 + 0.005258 = 0.130758

0.130758 x 55 = 5.78 L 

Mass N2 = 0.0841 mol x 28.0134 g/mol = 2.3548 g