Question

If a sample containing 2.50 ml of nitroglycerin (density=1.592g/ml) is detonated, how many total moles of gas are produced?

Answer 1

0.127 moles The formula for nitroglycerin is C3H5N3O9 so let's first calculate the molar mass of it. Carbon = 12.0107 Nitrogen = 14.0067 Hydrogen = 1.00794 Oxygen = 15.999 C3H5N3O9 = 3 * 12.0107 + 5 * 1.00794 + 3 * 14.0067 + 9 * 15.999 = 227.0829 Now calculate the number of moles of nitroglycerin you have by dividing the mass by the molar mass 2.50 ml * 1.592 g/ml / 227.0829 g/mol = 0.017527 mol The balanced formula for when nitroglycerin explodes is 4 C3H5N3O9 => 12 CO2 + 10 H2O + O2 + 6 N2 Since all of the products are gasses at the time of the explosion, there is a total of 29 moles of gas produced for every 4 moles of nitroglycerin Now multiply the number of moles of nitroglycerin by 29/4 0.017527 mol * 29/4 = 0.12707075 moles Round to 3 significant figures, giving 0.127 moles